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 Bernina (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 Bernina. 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 and 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.
Bernina is located in Mahaska 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 Mahaska County: Jasper, Keokuk, Marion, Monroe, Poweshiek & Wapello.
Below are the counties that are near Bernina. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Bernina:
- Mahaska County (The home county of Bernina)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bernina, with the one closest to Bernina listed first.
- Peoria
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Peoria is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peoria
- Leighton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Lacey
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Lacey is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacey
- Taintor
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Taintor is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taintor
- Fishville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Fishville is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fishville
- New Sharon
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Evans
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Evans is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evans
- Olivet
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Olivet is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olivet
- Oskaloosa
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Union Mills
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Union Mills is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Mills
- Beacon
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Beacon is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beacon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 488 people
- University Park
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- University Park is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for University Park
- Population from the 2020 Census: 468 people
- Iowa County
- Ambrose
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Ambrose is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ambrose
- Jasper County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bernina, with the one closest to Bernina listed first.
- Lynnville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Sully
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Galesburg
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Galesburg is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galesburg
- Killduff
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Killduff is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Killduff
- Reasnor
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Reasnor is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reasnor
- Population from the 2020 Census: 156 people
- Monroe
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Oakland Acres
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Oakland Acres is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland Acres
- Population from the 2020 Census: 161 people
- Kellogg
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Newton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Lambs Grove
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Lambs Grove is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lambs Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 165 people
- Metz
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Metz is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Metz
- Prairie City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Keokuk County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bernina, with the one closest to Bernina listed first.
- Coal Creek
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Coal Creek is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coal Creek
- Gibson
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Gibson is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 59 people
- What Cheer
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Thornburg
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Thornburg is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thornburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 67 people
- Delta
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Delta is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delta
- Population from the 2020 Census: 313 people
- Aurora
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Aurora is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aurora
- Keswick
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Hayesville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Hayesville is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hayesville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 48 people
- Hedrick
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Hedrick is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hedrick
- Population from the 2020 Census: 743 people
- Sigourney
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Webster
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Webster is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
- Population from the 2020 Census: 71 people
- Lucas County
- Olmitz
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Olmitz is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olmitz
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bernina, with the one closest to Bernina listed first.
- Pella
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Harvey
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Harvey is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harvey
- Population from the 2020 Census: 243 people
- Tracy
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Tracy is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tracy
- Howell ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Howell is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howell
- Otley
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Bussey
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Bussey is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bussey
- Population from the 2020 Census: 406 people
- Pershing
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Pershing is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pershing
- Attica
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Attica is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Attica
- Hamilton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Hamilton is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamilton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 135 people
- Cordova
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Cordova is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cordova
- Marysville
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Marysville is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marysville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 68 people
- Knoxville
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Monroe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bernina, with the one closest to Bernina listed first.
- Bluff Creek
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Bluff Creek is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff Creek
- Lovilia
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Avery
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Avery is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avery
- Albia
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Georgetown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Georgetown is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgetown
- Selection
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Selection is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Selection
- Poweshiek County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bernina, with the one closest to Bernina listed first.
- Searsboro
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Searsboro is located in Poweshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Searsboro
- Population from the 2020 Census: 145 people
- Montezuma
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Tilton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Tilton is located in Poweshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tilton
- Grinnell
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Deep River
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Deep River is located in Poweshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deep River
- Population from the 2020 Census: 268 people
- Malcom
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Brooklyn
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Guernsey
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Sheridan
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Sheridan is located in Poweshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheridan
- Wapello County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bernina, with the one closest to Bernina listed first.
- Eddyville
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Kirkville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Kirkville is located in Wapello County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kirkville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 177 people
- Dudley
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Dudley is located in Wapello County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dudley
- Chillicothe
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Chillicothe is located in Wapello County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chillicothe
- Population from the 2020 Census: 97 people
- Keb ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Keb is located in Wapello County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keb
- Highland Center
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Highland Center is located in Wapello County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland Center
- Bidwell
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Bidwell is located in Wapello County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bidwell
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Bernina, see our County-by-County Page for Bernina.
Cemeteries Near Bernina ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bernina.
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 Bernina - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Bernina covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Bernina, with the one closest to Bernina listed first.
- Centennial Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centennial Cemetery
- The Centennial Cemetery has also been known as:
- Dunsmore Cemetery
- Appel Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Evergreen Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Black Oak Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Peoria Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Jackson Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Weatherwax Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Fishville Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Madison Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Baldwin Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Porter Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Howard Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (357 more) ...
- Butler Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Prine Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Olivet Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 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.<3>
While we didn't find Bernina in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Bernina.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Bernina, with the one closest to Bernina listed first.
- Leighton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Peoria
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Peoria is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peoria
- Fishville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Fishville is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fishville
- Lacey
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Lacey is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacey
- Taintor
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Taintor is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taintor
- Olivet
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Olivet is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olivet
- Evans
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Evans is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evans
- New Sharon
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Pella
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Oskaloosa
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Howell ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Howell is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howell
- Harvey
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Harvey is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harvey
- Population from the 2020 Census: 243 people
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Tracy
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Tracy is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tracy
- Beacon
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Beacon is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beacon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 488 people
- Union Mills
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Union Mills is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Mills
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Bernina. See our List of 1890's Communities around Bernina.
Newspapers Published in Bernina ...
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 177 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bernina.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bernina, 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 Bernina.
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 Bernina:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Mahaska County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Iowa County
- Jasper County
- Keokuk County
- Lucas County
- Marion County
- Monroe County
- Poweshiek County
- Wapello 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> | 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 Bernina, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Bernina) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |