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 Blairsburg (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 Blairsburg. 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 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.
Blairsburg is located in Hamilton 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 Hamilton County: Boone, Franklin, Hardin, Story, Webster & Wright.
Below are the counties that are near Blairsburg. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Blairsburg:
- Hamilton County (The home county of Blairsburg)
- The following are listed by their distance from Blairsburg, with the one closest to Blairsburg listed first.
- Williams
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Kamrar
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Webster City
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Ellsworth
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Jewell
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Jewell is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jewell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,138 people
- Jewell has also been known as:
- Jewell Junction
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Jewell <1>
- Stanhope
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Stanhope is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stanhope
- Population from the 2020 Census: 394 people
- Randall
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Randall is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Randall
- Population from the 2020 Census: 166 people
- Stratford
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Boone County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blairsburg, with the one closest to Blairsburg listed first.
- Mackey
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Mackey is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mackey
- Pilot Mound
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Pilot Mound is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pilot Mound
- Population from the 2020 Census: 170 people
- Fraser
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Fraser is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fraser
- Population from the 2020 Census: 103 people
- Jordan
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Jordan is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jordan
- Centerville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Centerville is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blairsburg, with the one closest to Blairsburg listed first.
- Oakland
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Oakland is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland
- Popejoy
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Popejoy is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Popejoy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 74 people
- Bradford
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Bradford is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradford
- Coulter
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Coulter is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coulter
- Population from the 2020 Census: 261 people
- Reeve
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Reeve is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reeve
- Alexander
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Alexander is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alexander
- Population from the 2020 Census: 159 people
- Latimer
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Hampton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Faulkner
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Faulkner is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Faulkner
- Geneva
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Hancock County
- Goodell
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Goodell is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 126 people
- Hardin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blairsburg, with the one closest to Blairsburg listed first.
- Alden
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Buckeye
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Buckeye is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckeye
- Population from the 2020 Census: 107 people
- Radcliffe
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Sherman
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Sherman is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherman
- Iowa Falls
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Garden City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Garden City is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden City
- Hubbard
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Owasa
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Owasa is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Owasa
- Population from the 2020 Census: 41 people
- Eagle City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Eagle City is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagle City
- Robertson
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Robertson is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robertson
- New Providence
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- New Providence is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Providence
- Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
- Eldora
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Abbott
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Abbott is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abbott
- Humboldt County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blairsburg, with the one closest to Blairsburg listed first.
- Thor
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Renwick
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Hardy
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Hardy is located in Humboldt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hardy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 41 people
- Story County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blairsburg, with the one closest to Blairsburg listed first.
- Story City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Roland
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Roland is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,252 people
- Gilbert
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Zenorsville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Zenorsville is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zenorsville
- McCallsburg
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- McCallsburg is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCallsburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 320 people
- Zearing
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Ontario
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Ontario is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ontario
- Fernald
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Fernald is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fernald
- Webster County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blairsburg, with the one closest to Blairsburg listed first.
- Duncombe
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Brushy
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Brushy is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brushy
- Vincent
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Vincent is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vincent
- Population from the 2020 Census: 158 people
- Border Plains
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Border Plains is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Border Plains
- Evanston
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Evanston is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evanston
- Lehigh
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Coalville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Coalville is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coalville
- Cypsum City ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Cypsum City is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cypsum City
- Burnside
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Burnside is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnside
- Kalo
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Kalo is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kalo
- Dayton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Fort Dodge
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Otho
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Wright County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blairsburg, with the one closest to Blairsburg listed first.
- Woolstock
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Woolstock is located in Wright County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woolstock
- Population from the 2020 Census: 159 people
- Galt
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Dows
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Clarion
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Solberg ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Solberg is located in Wright County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Solberg
- Rowan
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Eagle Grove
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Holmes
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Holmes is located in Wright County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holmes
- Cornelia
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Cornelia is located in Wright County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornelia
- Goldfield
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Belmond
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Olaf
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Olaf is located in Wright County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olaf
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Blairsburg, see our County-by-County Page for Blairsburg.
Cemeteries Near Blairsburg ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Blairsburg.
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 Blairsburg - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Blairsburg covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Blairsburg, with the one closest to Blairsburg listed first.
- Blairsburg Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Williams Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- St. Marys Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Liberty Twp. Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Rose Grove Lutheran Church Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- First Presbyterian Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Community Church Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- St. Pauls Lutheran Church Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. Pauls Lutheran Church Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the St. Pauls Lutheran Church Cemetery is located 6 miles [9.7 km]<3> to the southwest of Dows.
- The St. Pauls Lutheran Church Cemetery has also been known as:
- St. Pauls Lutheran Cemetery
- Vernon Twp. Lutheran Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2208750 <2>
- Cass Center Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Cass Creek Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- French Church Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Calvary Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calvary Cemetery
- The Calvary Cemetery has also been known as:
- Calvary Catholic Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #94391 <2>
- Continue List (207 more) ...
- Graceland Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graceland Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Graceland Cemetery is a very large cemetery that is located in Webster City.
- The Graceland Cemetery has also been known as:
- Funk Cemetery
- Webster City Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #94905 <2>
- Zion Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Homewood Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Homewood Cemetery
- The Homewood Cemetery has also been known as:
- Lakin Cemetery
- Lincoln - Ellsworth Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #95114 <2>
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Blairsburg had a population of 50 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Blairsburg had a population of 199 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Blairsburg, with the one closest to Blairsburg listed first.
- Williams
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Kamrar
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Webster City
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Jewell
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Jewell is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jewell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,138 people
- Jewell has also been known as:
- Jewell Junction
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Jewell <1>
- Ellsworth
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Woolstock
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Woolstock is located in Wright County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woolstock
- Population from the 2020 Census: 159 people
- Alden
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Popejoy
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Popejoy is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Popejoy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 74 people
- Dows
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Galt
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Flugstad ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Flugstad is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flugstad
- Stanhope
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Stanhope is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stanhope
- Population from the 2020 Census: 394 people
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Radcliffe
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Burdette
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Burdette is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burdette
- Homer
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Homer is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Homer
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Blairsburg. See our List of 1890's Communities around Blairsburg.
Newspapers Published in Blairsburg ...
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 72 newspapers that have been published in the area around Blairsburg.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Blairsburg, 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 Blairsburg.
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 either 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 Blairsburg:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Hamilton County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Boone County
- Franklin County
- Hancock County
- Hardin County
- Humboldt County
- Story County
- Webster County
- Wright 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> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Blairsburg) 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 Blairsburg, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |