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 Alta Vista (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 Alta Vista. 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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and 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.
Alta Vista is located in Chickasaw 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 Chickasaw County: Bremer, Butler, Fayette, Floyd, Howard, Mitchell & Winneshiek.
Below are the counties that are near Alta Vista. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Alta Vista:
- Chickasaw County (The home county of Alta Vista)
- The following are listed by their distance from Alta Vista, with the one closest to Alta Vista listed first.
- Deerfield
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Deerfield is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deerfield
- North Washington
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- North Washington is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Washington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 137 people
- Jerico
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Jerico is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jerico
- New Hampton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Bassett
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Bassett is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bassett
- Population from the 2020 Census: 62 people
- Chickasaw
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Chickasaw is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chickasaw
- Ionia
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Lawler
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Bradford
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Bradford is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradford
- Republic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Republic is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Republic
- Nashua
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Fredericksburg
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Bremer County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alta Vista, with the one closest to Alta Vista listed first.
- Frederika
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Frederika is located in Bremer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frederika
- Population from the 2020 Census: 205 people
- Horton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Horton is located in Bremer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horton
- Seigel
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Seigel is located in Bremer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seigel
- Plainfield
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Tripoli
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Sumner
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Bremer
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Bremer is located in Bremer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bremer
- Butler County
- Greene
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Fayette County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alta Vista, with the one closest to Alta Vista listed first.
- Waucoma
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Alpha
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Alpha is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alpha
- Saint Lucas
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Saint Lucas is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Lucas
- Population from the 2020 Census: 134 people
- Hawkeye
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Hawkeye is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawkeye
- Population from the 2020 Census: 399 people
- Douglass
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Douglass is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Douglass
- Floyd County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alta Vista, with the one closest to Alta Vista listed first.
- Colwell
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Carrville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Carrville is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carrville
- Charles City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Floyd
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Oakwood
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Oakwood is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood
- Roseville
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Roseville is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roseville
- Rudd
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Marble Rock
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Aureola
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Aureola is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aureola
- Rockford
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Nora Springs
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Howard County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alta Vista, with the one closest to Alta Vista listed first.
- Elma
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Davis Corners
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Davis Corners is located in Howard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis Corners
- Riceville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Protivin
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Vernon Springs
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Vernon Springs is located in Howard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vernon Springs
- Lime Springs
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Cresco
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Chester
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Forest City ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Forest City is located in Howard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest City
- Florenceville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Florenceville is located in Howard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florenceville
- Mitchell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alta Vista, with the one closest to Alta Vista listed first.
- New Haven
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- New Haven is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Haven
- McIntire
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- McIntire is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McIntire
- Population from the 2020 Census: 127 people
- Orchard
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Orchard is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orchard
- Population from the 2020 Census: 71 people
- Little Cedar
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Little Cedar is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Cedar
- Osage
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Meyer
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Meyer is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meyer
- Stacyville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Stacyville is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stacyville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 466 people
- Mitchell
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Mitchell is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mitchell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 128 people
- Rock Creek
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Rock Creek is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Creek
- Saint Ansgar
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Toeterville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Winneshiek County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alta Vista, with the one closest to Alta Vista listed first.
- Jackson Junction
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Jackson Junction is located in Winneshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jackson Junction
- Population from the 2020 Census: 54 people
- Navan
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Navan is located in Winneshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Navan
- Ridgeway
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Spillville
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Fort Atkinson
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Kendallville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Kendallville is located in Winneshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kendallville
- Calmar
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Festina
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Bluffton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Bluffton is located in Winneshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluffton
- Fillmore County (MN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Alta Vista, with the one closest to Alta Vista listed first.
- York
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- York is located in Fillmore County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for York
- Granger
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Granger is located in Fillmore County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granger
- Etna
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Etna is located in Fillmore County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Etna
- Ostrander
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Mower County (MN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Alta Vista, with the one closest to Alta Vista listed first.
- Le Roy
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Johnsburg
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Johnsburg is located in Mower County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnsburg
- Taopi
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Taopi is located in Mower County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taopi
- Population from the 2020 Census: 65 people
- Adams
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Alta Vista, see our County-by-County Page for Alta Vista.
Cemeteries Near Alta Vista ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Alta Vista.
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 Alta Vista - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Alta Vista covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Alta Vista, with the one closest to Alta Vista listed first.
- Union Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Calvary Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Howard Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Deerfield Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Calvary Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- St. Marys Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- St. Patricks Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Sargeant Farm Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Our Lady of Lourdes Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Reckner Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Eggleston Farm Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Jerico Lutheran Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Continue List (227 more) ...
- St. Patricks Catholic Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Maple Leaf Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Alta Vista had a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Alta Vista had a population of 248 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Alta Vista, with the one closest to Alta Vista listed first.
- Elma
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Deerfield
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Deerfield is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deerfield
- North Washington
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- North Washington is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Washington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 137 people
- Devon
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Devon is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Devon
- Jerico
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Jerico is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jerico
- Lourdes
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Lourdes is located in Howard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lourdes
- Bassett
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Bassett is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bassett
- Population from the 2020 Census: 62 people
- New Hampton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Chickasaw
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Chickasaw is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chickasaw
- Ionia
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Saude
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Saude is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saude
- Saratoga
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Saratoga is located in Howard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saratoga
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- New Haven
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- New Haven is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Haven
- Doubleday
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Doubleday is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doubleday
- Riceville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Alta Vista. See our List of 1890's Communities around Alta Vista.
Newspapers Published in Alta Vista ...
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 92 newspapers that have been published in the area around Alta Vista.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Alta Vista, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Alta Vista.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These helpful 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 Alta Vista:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Chickasaw County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bremer County
- Butler County
- Fayette County
- Floyd County
- Howard County
- Mitchell County
- Winneshiek County
- Fillmore County
- Mower 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 Alta Vista, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Alta Vista) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |