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 Benson (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 Benson. 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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the east. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the south.
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 south 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.
Benson is located in Black Hawk 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 Black Hawk County: Benton, Bremer, Buchanan, Butler, Fayette, Grundy & Tama.
Below are the counties that are near Benson. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Benson:
- Black Hawk County (The home county of Benson)
- The following are listed by their distance from Benson, with the one closest to Benson listed first.
- Cedar Falls
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- North Cedar
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- North Cedar is located in Black Hawk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Cedar
- Cedar City
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Cedar City is located in Black Hawk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar City
- Finchford
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Finchford is located in Black Hawk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Finchford
- Janesville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Waterloo
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Hudson
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Evansdale
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Edwards ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Edwards is located in Black Hawk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edwards
- Voorhies
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Voorhies is located in Black Hawk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Voorhies
- Elk Run Heights
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- 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
- Dewar
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Dewar is located in Black Hawk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dewar
- Blessing
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Blessing is located in Black Hawk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blessing
- Benton County
- Mount Auburn
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Mount Auburn is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Auburn
- Population from the 2020 Census: 144 people
- Bremer County
- The following are listed by their distance from Benson, with the one closest to Benson listed first.
- Waverly
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Denver
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Bremer
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Bremer is located in Bremer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bremer
- Klinger
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Klinger is located in Bremer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Klinger
- Knittel
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Knittel is located in Bremer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knittel
- Readlyn
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Plainfield
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Horton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Horton is located in Bremer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horton
- Seigel
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Seigel is located in Bremer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seigel
- Tripoli
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Frederika
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Frederika is located in Bremer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frederika
- Population from the 2020 Census: 205 people
- Sumner
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Buchanan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Benson, with the one closest to Benson listed first.
- Fairbank
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Shady Grove
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Shady Grove is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shady Grove
- Butler County
- The following are listed by their distance from Benson, with the one closest to Benson listed first.
- New Hartford
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Sinclair
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Sinclair is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sinclair
- Shell Rock
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Coster
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Coster is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coster
- Parkersburg
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Butler Center
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Butler Center is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butler Center
- Clarksville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Aplington
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Allison
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Kesley
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Kesley is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kesley
- Austinville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Austinville is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Austinville
- Bristow
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Bristow is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bristow
- Population from the 2020 Census: 147 people
- Dumont
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Chickasaw County
- The following are listed by their distance from Benson, with the one closest to Benson listed first.
- Nashua
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Bradford
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Bradford is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradford
- Republic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Republic is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Republic
- Fayette County
- Oran
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Oran is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oran
- Franklin County
- Faulkner
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Faulkner is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Faulkner
- Grundy County
- The following are listed by their distance from Benson, with the one closest to Benson listed first.
- Fredsville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Fredsville is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fredsville
- Dike
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Stout
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Stout is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stout
- Population from the 2020 Census: 214 people
- Fern
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Fern is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fern
- Reinbeck
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Morrison
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Buck Grove
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Buck Grove is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buck Grove
- Holland
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Grundy Center
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Wellsburg
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Beaman
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Beaman is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 183 people
- Conrad
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Hardin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Benson, with the one closest to Benson listed first.
- Ackley
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Abbott
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Abbott is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abbott
- Cleves
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Cleves is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cleves
- Steamboat Rock
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Robertson
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Robertson is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robertson
- Eldora
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Whitten
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Whitten is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitten
- Population from the 2020 Census: 140 people
- Tama County
- The following are listed by their distance from Benson, with the one closest to Benson listed first.
- Dinsdale
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Dinsdale is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dinsdale
- Lincoln
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Lincoln is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lincoln
- Population from the 2020 Census: 148 people
- Buckingham
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Buckingham is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckingham
- Traer
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Gladbrook
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Dysart
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Benson, see our County-by-County Page for Benson.
Cemeteries Near Benson ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Benson.
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 Benson - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Benson covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Benson, with the one closest to Benson listed first.
- Benson Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Rarick Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Fairfield Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Bidwell Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Hillcrest Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Fairfield Twp. Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Fairview Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Greenwood Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Highland Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Gerholdt Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Oak Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Hillside Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Continue List (240 more) ...
- Cedar Valley Memorial Gardens
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Washington Chapel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Finchford Cemetery
(5 miles [8 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>
While we didn't find Benson in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Benson.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Benson, with the one closest to Benson listed first.
- Fredsville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Fredsville is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fredsville
- Cedar Falls
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- New Hartford
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Finchford
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Finchford is located in Black Hawk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Finchford
- Dairyville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Dairyville is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dairyville
- Swanton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Swanton is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swanton
- Janesville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Waverly Junction
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Waverly Junction is located in Bremer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waverly Junction
- Lincoln
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Lincoln is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lincoln
- Hudson
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Waterloo
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Shell Rock
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Coster
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Coster is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coster
- Parkersburg
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Denver
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Benson. See our List of 1890's Communities around Benson.
Newspapers Published in Benson ...
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 Benson.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Benson, 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 Benson.
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 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 Benson:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Black Hawk County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Benton County
- Bremer County
- Buchanan County
- Butler County
- Chickasaw County
- Fayette County
- Franklin County
- Grundy County
- Hardin County
- Tama 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 Benson, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Benson) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |