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 Avoca (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 Avoca. 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.
Avoca is located in Pottawattamie 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 Pottawattamie County: Cass, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery, Shelby, Douglas (NE), Sarpy (NE) & Washington (NE).
Below are the counties that are near Avoca. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Avoca:
- Pottawattamie County (The home county of Avoca)
- The following are listed by their distance from Avoca, with the one closest to Avoca listed first.
- Harlan Junction ‑ Historic
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Harlan Junction is located in Pottawattamie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harlan Junction
- Walnut
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Walnut is located in Pottawattamie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut
- Population from the 2020 Census: 768 people
- Hancock
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Hancock is located in Pottawattamie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hancock
- Population from the 2020 Census: 196 people
- Minden
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Oakland
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Neola
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Carson
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Underwood
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Macedonia
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- McClelland
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Treynor
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Weston
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Weston is located in Pottawattamie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weston
- Pigeon
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Pigeon is located in Pottawattamie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pigeon
- Audubon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Avoca, with the one closest to Avoca listed first.
- Kimballton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Brayton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Fiscus
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Fiscus is located in Audubon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fiscus
- Exira
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Hamlin
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Hamlin is located in Audubon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamlin
- Audubon
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Ross
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Ross is located in Audubon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ross
- Gray
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Cass County
- The following are listed by their distance from Avoca, with the one closest to Avoca listed first.
- Marne
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Atlantic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Lewis
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Sycamore Village
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Sycamore Village is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sycamore Village
- Grove City ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Grove City is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grove City
- Griswold
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Wiota
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Norway Center
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Norway Center is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norway Center
- Lyman
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Lyman is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lyman
- Cumberland
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Cumberland is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cumberland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 246 people
- Anita
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Crawford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Avoca, with the one closest to Avoca listed first.
- Astor
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Astor is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Astor
- Manilla
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Buck Grove
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Buck Grove is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buck Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 43 people
- Harrison County
- The following are listed by their distance from Avoca, with the one closest to Avoca listed first.
- Yorkshire
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Yorkshire is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorkshire
- Persia
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Persia is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Persia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 281 people
- Logan
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Woodbine
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Dunlap
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Missouri Valley
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Mills County
- The following are listed by their distance from Avoca, with the one closest to Avoca listed first.
- Henderson
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Mineola
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Silver City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Silver City is located in Mills County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 246 people
- Montgomery County
- The following are listed by their distance from Avoca, with the one closest to Avoca listed first.
- Elliott
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Grant
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Grant is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grant
- Population from the 2020 Census: 84 people
- Shelby County
- The following are listed by their distance from Avoca, with the one closest to Avoca listed first.
- Corley
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Corley is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corley
- Shelby
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Tennant
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Tennant is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tennant
- Population from the 2020 Census: 63 people
- Harlan
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Portsmouth
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Westphalia
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Westphalia is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westphalia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 117 people
- Elk Horn
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Kirkman
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Kirkman is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kirkman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 61 people
- Panama
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Earling
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Earling is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Earling
- Population from the 2020 Census: 403 people
- Irwin
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Defiance
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Defiance is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Defiance
- Population from the 2020 Census: 260 people
- Botna
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Botna is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Botna
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Avoca, see our County-by-County Page for Avoca.
Cemeteries Near Avoca ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Avoca.
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 Avoca - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Avoca covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Avoca, with the one closest to Avoca listed first.
- Graceland Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Newton Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Jacobson Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Olson Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Walnut Catholic Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Lee Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Oak Hill Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Walnut Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Altamont Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Shelby Twp. Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Fairview Twp. Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Lincoln Twp. Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (189 more) ...
- Monroe Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Silver Valley Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Folck Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
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 Avoca had a population of 1,637 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Avoca had a population of 1,537 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Avoca, with the one closest to Avoca listed first.
- Harlan Junction ‑ Historic
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Harlan Junction is located in Pottawattamie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harlan Junction
- Walnut
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Walnut is located in Pottawattamie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut
- Population from the 2020 Census: 768 people
- Hancock
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Hancock is located in Pottawattamie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hancock
- Population from the 2020 Census: 196 people
- Corley
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Corley is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corley
- Shelby
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Minden
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Marne
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Harlan
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Oakland
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Yorkshire
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Yorkshire is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorkshire
- York Center
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- York Center is located in Pottawattamie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for York Center
- Persia
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Persia is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Persia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 281 people
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Portsmouth
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Neola
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Westphalia
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Westphalia is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westphalia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 117 people
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Avoca. See our List of 1890's Communities around Avoca.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Avoca ...
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 90 newspapers that have been published in the area around Avoca.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Avoca. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Avoca and those printed in the larger area surrounding Avoca.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3> of Avoca.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we 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 Avoca:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Pottawattamie County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Audubon County
- Cass County
- Crawford County
- Harrison County
- Mills County
- Montgomery County
- Shelby 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 Avoca, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a '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- Avoca) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |