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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 Berea (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 Berea. 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 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.

Berea is located in Adair 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 Adair County: Adams, Audubon, Cass, Dallas, Guthrie, Madison & Union.

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

  • Adair County     (The home county of Berea)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Berea, with the one closest to Berea listed first.
    • Bridgewater
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Fontanelle
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Fontanelle is located in Adair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fontanelle
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 612 people
    • Greenfield
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Gilead
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Gilead is located in Adair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilead
    • Arbor Hill
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Arbor Hill is located in Adair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arbor Hill
    • Orient
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Hebron
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Hebron is located in Adair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hebron
    • Stanzel
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Stanzel is located in Adair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stanzel
    • Zion
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Zion is located in Adair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zion
  • Adams County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Berea, with the one closest to Berea listed first.
    • Williamson
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Williamson is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamson
    • Carl
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Carl is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carl
    • Mount Etna
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Mount Etna is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Etna
    • Lincoln Center
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Lincoln Center is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lincoln Center
    • Carbon
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Carbon is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carbon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 31 people
    • Quincy
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Quincy is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quincy
    • Strand
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Strand is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strand
    • Prescott
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Queen City ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Queen City is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Queen City
    • Corning
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Brooks
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Brooks is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brooks
    • Stringtown
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Stringtown is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stringtown
    • Mercer
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Mercer is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mercer
  • Audubon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Berea, with the one closest to Berea listed first.
    • Brayton
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Exira
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Hamlin
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Hamlin is located in Audubon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamlin
    • Kimballton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Audubon
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Ross
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Ross is located in Audubon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ross
  • Cass County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Berea, with the one closest to Berea listed first.
    • Anita
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Massena
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Norway Center
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Norway Center is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norway Center
    • Wiota
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Cumberland
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Cumberland is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cumberland
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 246 people
    • Dewey
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Dewey is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dewey
    • Grove City ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Grove City is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grove City
    • Sycamore Village
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Sycamore Village is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sycamore Village
    • Atlantic
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Lyman
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Lyman is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lyman
    • Lewis
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Marne
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Griswold
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
  • Dallas County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Berea, with the one closest to Berea listed first.
    • Dexter
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Linden
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Linden is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linden
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 214 people
    • Redfield
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Wiscotta
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Wiscotta is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wiscotta
  • Guthrie County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Berea, with the one closest to Berea listed first.
    • Adair
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Casey
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Menlo
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • North Branch
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • North Branch is located in Guthrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Branch
    • Stuart
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Glendon
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Glendon is located in Guthrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glendon
    • Guthrie Center
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Dale
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Dale is located in Guthrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dale
    • Panora
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Madison County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Berea, with the one closest to Berea listed first.
    • Webster
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Webster is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
    • Pitzer
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Pitzer is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pitzer
    • Macksburg
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Macksburg is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macksburg
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 122 people
    • Earlham
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Montgomery County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Berea, with the one closest to Berea listed first.
    • Grant
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Grant is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grant
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 84 people
    • Sciola
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Sciola is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sciola
    • Elliott
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Tenville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Tenville is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tenville
  • Pottawattamie County
    • Walnut
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Walnut is located in Pottawattamie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 768 people
  • Shelby County
    • Elk Horn
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
  • Union County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Berea, with the one closest to Berea listed first.
    • Cromwell
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Cromwell is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cromwell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 105 people
    • Creston
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • East Creston
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • East Creston is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Creston

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

Cemeteries Near Berea ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Berea.

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

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

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

  • Eureka Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Sears Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Lincoln Center Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • St. Marys Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Massena Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Massena Cemetery
    • The Massena Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Massena Center Cemetery
  • Bryant Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Canby Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Evergreen Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Prussia Center Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prussia Center Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Prussia Center Cemetery is located 5 miles [8 km]<3> to the northwest of Greenfield.
    • The Prussia Center Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Prussia Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #95902 <2>
  • Lutheran Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Sunnyhill Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • St. Johns Catholic Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (192 more) ...
    • Norway Center Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Franklin Lutheran Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • St. Patricks Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)

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.<4>

While we didn't find Berea in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Berea.

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

  • Canby
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Canby is located in Adair County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canby
  • Anita
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Bridgewater
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Fontanelle
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Fontanelle is located in Adair County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fontanelle
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 612 people
  • Adair
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Massena
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Wiota
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
  • Cumberland
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Cumberland is located in Cass County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cumberland
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 246 people
  • Greenfield
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
  • Casey
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Fisk
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Fisk is located in Adair County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fisk
  • Lorah
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Lorah is located in Cass County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lorah
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Mount Etna
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Mount Etna is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Etna
    • Carl
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Carl is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carl
    • Menlo
      (17 miles [27.4 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 Berea. See our List of 1890's Communities around Berea.

Newspapers Published in Berea ...

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 53 newspapers that have been published in the area around Berea.

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

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 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 Berea:

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>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 from Point A (ie- Berea) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<4>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 Berea, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.