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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 Aurora (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 Aurora. 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 hospitals 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.

Aurora is located in Buchanan 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 Buchanan County: Benton, Black Hawk, Bremer, Clayton, Delaware & Fayette.

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

  • Buchanan County     (The home county of Aurora)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Aurora, with the one closest to Aurora listed first.
    • Lamont
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Stanley
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • Stanley is located in Buchanan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stanley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 120 people
    • Hazleton
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Winthrop
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Winthrop is located in Buchanan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winthrop
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 848 people
    • Doris
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Doris is located in Buchanan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doris
    • Independence
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Quasqueton
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Fairbank
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Monti
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Monti is located in Buchanan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monti
    • Rowley
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Hamerville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Hamerville is located in Buchanan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamerville
    • Shady Grove
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Shady Grove is located in Buchanan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shady Grove
  • Benton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Aurora, with the one closest to Aurora listed first.
    • Spencers Grove
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Spencers Grove is located in Benton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spencers Grove
    • Urbana
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
  • Black Hawk County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Aurora, with the one closest to Aurora listed first.
    • Jesup
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Jesup is located in Black Hawk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jesup
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,711 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Jesup <1>
    • Dunkerton
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Dunkerton is located in Black Hawk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunkerton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 851 people
    • Jubilee
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Jubilee is located in Black Hawk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jubilee
    • Dewar
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Dewar is located in Black Hawk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dewar
    • Raymond
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Raymond is located in Black Hawk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raymond
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 788 people
    • Edwards ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Edwards is located in Black Hawk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edwards
    • Gilbertville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Gilbertville is located in Black Hawk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilbertville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 725 people
    • Elk Run Heights
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Elk Run Heights is located in Black Hawk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elk Run Heights
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,135 people
    • Evansdale
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Bremer County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Aurora, with the one closest to Aurora listed first.
    • Sumner
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Klinger
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Klinger is located in Bremer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Klinger
    • Readlyn
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Knittel
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Knittel is located in Bremer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knittel
    • Tripoli
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Denver
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Clayton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Aurora, with the one closest to Aurora listed first.
    • Strawberry Point
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Volga
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Volga is located in Clayton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Volga
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 193 people
    • Mederville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Mederville is located in Clayton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mederville
    • Osborne
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Osborne is located in Clayton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osborne
    • Wood
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Wood is located in Clayton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wood
    • Littleport
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Littleport is located in Clayton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Littleport
    • Elkader
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Elkport
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Elkport is located in Clayton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkport
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 36 people
    • Garber
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Garber is located in Clayton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garber
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 86 people
    • Gunder
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Gunder is located in Clayton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gunder
    • Clayton Center
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Clayton Center is located in Clayton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clayton Center
    • Saint Olaf
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Delaware County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Aurora, with the one closest to Aurora listed first.
    • Dundee
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Forestville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Forestville is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forestville
    • Masonville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Masonville is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Masonville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 119 people
    • Edgewood
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Manchester
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Greeley
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Oneida
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Oneida is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oneida
    • Robinson
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Robinson is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robinson
    • Golden
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Golden is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Golden
    • Delaware
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Delaware is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delaware
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 149 people
    • Ryan
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Ryan is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ryan
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 343 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ryan <1>
    • Almoral
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Almoral is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Almoral
  • Fayette County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Aurora, with the one closest to Aurora listed first.
    • Maryville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Maryville is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maryville
    • Arlington
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Arlington is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arlington
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 393 people
    • Oelwein
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Maynard
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Fayette
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Wadena
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Westgate
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Westgate is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westgate
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 209 people
    • Randalia
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Randalia is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Randalia
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 60 people
    • Oran
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Oran is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oran
    • Illyria
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Illyria is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Illyria
    • Donnan
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Donnan is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Donnan
    • Brainard
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Brainard is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brainard
  • Jones County
    • Argand
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Argand is located in Jones County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argand
  • Linn County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Aurora, with the one closest to Aurora listed first.
    • Troy Mills
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Walker
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Walker is located in Linn County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walker
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 782 people
    • Coggon
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Paris ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Paris is located in Linn County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paris
    • Center Point
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
    • Central City
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
    • Prairieburg
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Prairieburg is located in Linn County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairieburg
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 190 people

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

Cemeteries Near Aurora ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Aurora.

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

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

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

  • Madison Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Spangler Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Union Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Stanley Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Payne Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Byron Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Campton Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • County Corners Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • County Corners Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • County Courners Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Garden Prairie Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Fremont Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (280 more) ...
    • Stanger Farm Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • St. Albert Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Otsego Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)

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 in 1895, Aurora had a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Aurora had a population of 162 people.

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

  • Lamont
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Stanley
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Stanley is located in Buchanan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stanley
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 120 people
  • Hazleton
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Bryantsburg
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Bryantsburg is located in Buchanan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bryantsburg
  • Dundee
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
  • Winthrop
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Winthrop is located in Buchanan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winthrop
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 848 people
  • Forestville
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Forestville is located in Delaware County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forestville
  • Strawberry Point
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Oelwein
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Masonville
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Masonville is located in Delaware County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Masonville
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 119 people
  • Saint Sebald
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Saint Sebald is located in Clayton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Sebald
  • Otterville
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Otterville is located in Buchanan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otterville
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...
    • Independence
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Gatesville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Gatesville is located in Buchanan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gatesville
    • Maynard
      (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 Aurora. See our List of 1890's Communities around Aurora.

Newspapers Published in Aurora ...

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 126 newspapers that have been published in the area around Aurora.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Aurora, 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 Aurora.

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 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 Aurora:

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 Aurora, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Aurora) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.