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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 Black Corners (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 Black Corners. 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.

Name Variations for Black Corners ...

When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.

Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.

For example, a typical abbreviation for Black Corners: Black Cors.

You might be interested in other communities that are also named Black Corners. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Black Corners.

If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.

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 southwest 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 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 west 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.

Black Corners is located in Dallas 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 Dallas County: Adair, Boone, Greene, Guthrie, Madison, Polk & Warren.

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

  • Dallas County     (The home county of Black Corners)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Black Corners, with the one closest to Black Corners listed first.
    • Dallas Center
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Minburn
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Minburn is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minburn
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 357 people
    • Panther
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • Panther is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panther
    • Adel
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Adel is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adel
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,607 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Adel <1>
    • Waukee
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • DeSoto
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Bouton
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Perry
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Granger
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Van Meter
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Redfield
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Wiscotta
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Wiscotta is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wiscotta
    • Woodward
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Adair County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Black Corners, with the one closest to Black Corners listed first.
    • Arbor Hill
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Arbor Hill is located in Adair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arbor Hill
    • Stanzel
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Stanzel is located in Adair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stanzel
  • Boone County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Black Corners, with the one closest to Black Corners listed first.
    • Madrid
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Berkley
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Berkley is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berkley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 33 people
    • Luther
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Luther is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Luther
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 133 people
    • Moingona
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Moingona is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moingona
    • Beaver
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Beaver is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 50 people
    • Ogden
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Boone
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Jordan
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Jordan is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jordan
    • Centerville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Centerville is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
    • Fraser
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Fraser is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fraser
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 103 people
  • Greene County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Black Corners, with the one closest to Black Corners listed first.
    • Rippey
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Rippey is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rippey
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 269 people
    • Cooper
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Cooper is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooper
    • Grand Junction
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Jefferson
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Dana
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Dana is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dana
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 67 people
  • Guthrie County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Black Corners, with the one closest to Black Corners listed first.
    • Dale
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Dale is located in Guthrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dale
    • Panora
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Jamaica
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Yale
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Yale is located in Guthrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yale
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 239 people
    • Herndon
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Herndon is located in Guthrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herndon
    • Stuart
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Glendon
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Glendon is located in Guthrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glendon
    • Menlo
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Bagley
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Bagley is located in Guthrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bagley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 285 people
    • Guthrie Center
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Casey
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Bayard
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
  • Madison County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Black Corners, with the one closest to Black Corners listed first.
    • Earlham
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Pitzer
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Pitzer is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pitzer
    • Patterson
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Patterson is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 163 people
    • Winterset
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Webster
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Webster is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
    • Saint Charles
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Ord
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Ord is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ord
  • Polk County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Black Corners, with the one closest to Black Corners listed first.
    • Grimes
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Clive
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Urbandale
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Andrews
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Andrews is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Andrews
    • Herrold
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Herrold is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herrold
    • Johnston
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • West Des Moines
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Polk City
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Commerce
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Commerce is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Commerce
    • Windsor Heights
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Polk City Junction
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Polk City Junction is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Polk City Junction
    • Saylorville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Saylorville is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saylorville
    • Sheldahl
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Sheldahl is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheldahl
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 325 people
  • Story County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Black Corners, with the one closest to Black Corners listed first.
    • Slater
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Kelley
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Huxley
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Midvale
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Midvale is located in Story County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midvale
    • Cambridge
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Ontario
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Ontario is located in Story County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ontario
    • Ames
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Ames is located in Story County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ames
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 67,033 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ames <1>
  • Warren County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Black Corners, with the one closest to Black Corners listed first.
    • Cumming
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Orillia
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Orillia is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orillia
    • Lakewood
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Lakewood is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood
    • Churchville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Churchville is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Churchville
    • Prole
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Prole is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prole
    • Bevington
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Martensdale
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Spring Hill
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Spring Hill is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Hill
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 65 people
    • Saint Marys
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Saint Marys is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Marys
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 127 people

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

Cemeteries Near Black Corners ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Black Corners.

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 Black Corners - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • King Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Dallas County Farm Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Jenkins Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Masonic Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Minburn Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • St. Marys Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Kinnick Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Elmwood Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Oakdale Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Odd Fellows Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Merical Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Brethren Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (255 more) ...

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 Black Corners in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Black Corners.

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

  • Dallas Center
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Minburn
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Minburn is located in Dallas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minburn
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 357 people
  • Panther
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Panther is located in Dallas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panther
  • Adel
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Adel is located in Dallas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adel
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,607 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Adel <1>
  • Ortonville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Ortonville is located in Dallas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ortonville
  • Kennedy
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Kennedy is located in Dallas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kennedy
  • Waukee
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • DeSoto
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
  • Ingersoll ‑ Historic
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Ingersoll is located in Dallas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ingersoll
  • Redfield
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Van Meter
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
  • Perry
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Grimes
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Granger
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Bouton
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Black Corners. See our List of 1890's Communities around Black Corners.

Newspapers Published in Black Corners ...

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 61 newspapers that have been published in the area around Black Corners.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Black Corners, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Black Corners.

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 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 Black Corners:

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 Black Corners, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Black Corners) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.