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 Bonair (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 Bonair. 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.
Bonair is located in Howard 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 Howard County: Chickasaw, Floyd, Mitchell, Winneshiek, Fillmore (MN) & Mower (MN).
Below are the counties that are near Bonair. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Bonair:
- Howard County (The home county of Bonair)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bonair, with the one closest to Bonair listed first.
- Forest City ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Forest City is located in Howard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest City
- Lime Springs
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Cresco
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Vernon Springs
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Vernon Springs is located in Howard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vernon Springs
- Florenceville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Florenceville is located in Howard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florenceville
- Davis Corners
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Davis Corners is located in Howard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis Corners
- Chester
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Protivin
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Elma
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Riceville
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Allamakee County
- Quandahl
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Quandahl is located in Allamakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quandahl
- Chickasaw County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bonair, with the one closest to Bonair listed first.
- Jerico
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Jerico is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jerico
- Alta Vista
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Deerfield
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Deerfield is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deerfield
- North Washington
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- North Washington is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Washington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 137 people
- Lawler
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- New Hampton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Bassett
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Bassett is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bassett
- Population from the 2020 Census: 62 people
- Ionia
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Chickasaw
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Chickasaw is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chickasaw
- Fayette County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bonair, with the one closest to Bonair listed first.
- Waucoma
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Saint Lucas
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Saint Lucas is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Lucas
- Population from the 2020 Census: 134 people
- Alpha
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Alpha is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alpha
- Floyd County
- Colwell
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Mitchell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bonair, with the one closest to Bonair listed first.
- McIntire
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- McIntire is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McIntire
- Population from the 2020 Census: 127 people
- New Haven
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- New Haven is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Haven
- Meyer
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Meyer is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meyer
- Little Cedar
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Little Cedar is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Cedar
- Stacyville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Stacyville is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stacyville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 466 people
- Winneshiek County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bonair, with the one closest to Bonair listed first.
- Kendallville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Kendallville is located in Winneshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kendallville
- Ridgeway
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Bluffton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Bluffton is located in Winneshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluffton
- Burr Oak
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Spillville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Hesper
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Hesper is located in Winneshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hesper
- Decorah
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Jackson Junction
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Jackson Junction is located in Winneshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jackson Junction
- Population from the 2020 Census: 54 people
- Navan
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Navan is located in Winneshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Navan
- Calmar
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Fort Atkinson
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Highlandville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Highlandville is located in Winneshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highlandville
- Festina
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Fillmore County (MN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bonair, with the one closest to Bonair listed first.
- Granger
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Granger is located in Fillmore County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granger
- York
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- York is located in Fillmore County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for York
- Harmony
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Etna
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Etna is located in Fillmore County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Etna
- Canton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Carimona
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Carimona is located in Fillmore County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carimona
- Ostrander
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Preston
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Wykoff
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Spring Valley
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Newburg
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Newburg is located in Fillmore County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newburg
- Fillmore
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Fillmore is located in Fillmore County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fillmore
- Fountain
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Houston County (MN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bonair, with the one closest to Bonair listed first.
- Riceford
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Riceford is located in Houston County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riceford
- Spring Grove
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Yucatan
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Yucatan is located in Houston County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yucatan
- Mower County (MN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bonair, with the one closest to Bonair listed first.
- Le Roy
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Taopi
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Taopi is located in Mower County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taopi
- Population from the 2020 Census: 65 people
- Grand Meadow
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Racine
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Adams
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Johnsburg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Johnsburg is located in Mower County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnsburg
- Elkton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Elkton is located in Mower County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 148 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Bonair, see our County-by-County Page for Bonair.
Cemeteries Near Bonair ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bonair.
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 Bonair - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Bonair covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Bonair, with the one closest to Bonair listed first.
- Phillips Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Howard Center Twp. Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Calvary Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Foreston Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Albion Twp. Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Albion Twp. Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Cedar Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Pleasant Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Oak Lawn Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Eddy Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Oak Hill Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- St. Mathews Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (267 more) ...
- Saetersdal Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- New Oregon Twp. Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- St. Kierans Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Bonair had a population of 56 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Bonair, with the one closest to Bonair listed first.
- Lime Springs
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Cresco
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Davis Corners
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Davis Corners is located in Howard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis Corners
- Florenceville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Florenceville is located in Howard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florenceville
- Granger
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Granger is located in Fillmore County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granger
- Kendallville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Kendallville is located in Winneshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kendallville
- York
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- York is located in Fillmore County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for York
- Bristol
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Bristol is located in Fillmore County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bristol
- Chester
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Greenleafton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Greenleafton is located in Fillmore County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenleafton
- Saratoga
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Saratoga is located in Howard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saratoga
- Lourdes
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Lourdes is located in Howard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lourdes
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Cherry Grove
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Cherry Grove is located in Fillmore County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Grove
- Harmony
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Ridgeway
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Bonair. See our List of 1890's Communities around Bonair.
Newspapers Published in Bonair ...
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 102 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bonair.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bonair, 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 Bonair.
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 Bonair:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Howard County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Allamakee County
- Chickasaw County
- Fayette County
- Floyd County
- Mitchell County
- Winneshiek County
- Fillmore County
- Houston County
- Mower 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 Bonair, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Bonair) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |