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 Brooklyn (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 Brooklyn. 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 and doctors 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.
Brooklyn is located in Poweshiek 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 Poweshiek County: Benton, Iowa, Jasper, Keokuk, Mahaska, Marshall & Tama.
Below are the counties that are near Brooklyn. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Brooklyn:
- Poweshiek County (The home county of Brooklyn)
- The following are listed by their distance from Brooklyn, with the one closest to Brooklyn listed first.
- Malcom
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Hartwick
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Hartwick is located in Poweshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartwick
- Population from the 2020 Census: 81 people
- Victor
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Guernsey
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Sheridan
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Sheridan is located in Poweshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheridan
- Deep River
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Deep River is located in Poweshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deep River
- Population from the 2020 Census: 268 people
- Montezuma
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Grinnell
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Tilton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Tilton is located in Poweshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tilton
- Searsboro
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Searsboro is located in Poweshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Searsboro
- Population from the 2020 Census: 145 people
- Benton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brooklyn, with the one closest to Brooklyn listed first.
- Belle Plaine
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Irving
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Irving is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irving
- Luzerne
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Luzerne is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Luzerne
- Population from the 2020 Census: 92 people
- Blairstown
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Keystone
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Van Horne
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Van Horne is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Van Horne
- Population from the 2020 Census: 646 people
- Watkins
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Watkins is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watkins
- Norway
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Newhall
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Iowa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brooklyn, with the one closest to Brooklyn listed first.
- Ladora
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Dayton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Dayton is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
- Ambrose
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Ambrose is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ambrose
- Millersburg
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Millersburg is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millersburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 139 people
- Marengo
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Williamsburg
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Conroy
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Conroy is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conroy
- South Amana
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- North English
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Parnell
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- West Amana
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- West Amana is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Amana
- Middle Amana
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Amana
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Jasper County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brooklyn, with the one closest to Brooklyn listed first.
- Newburg
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Newburg is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newburg
- Oakland Acres
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Oakland Acres is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland Acres
- Population from the 2020 Census: 161 people
- Lynnville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Sully
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Kellogg
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Killduff
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Killduff is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Killduff
- Galesburg
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Galesburg is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galesburg
- Newton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Keokuk County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brooklyn, with the one closest to Brooklyn listed first.
- Gibson
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Gibson is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 59 people
- Thornburg
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Thornburg is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thornburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 67 people
- Aurora
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Aurora is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aurora
- Coal Creek
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Coal Creek is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coal Creek
- Keswick
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- What Cheer
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Webster
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Webster is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
- Population from the 2020 Census: 71 people
- South English
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- South English is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South English
- Population from the 2020 Census: 211 people
- Delta
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Delta is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delta
- Population from the 2020 Census: 313 people
- Kinross
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Kinross is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kinross
- Population from the 2020 Census: 71 people
- Sigourney
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Mahaska County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brooklyn, with the one closest to Brooklyn listed first.
- Barnes City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Union Mills
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Union Mills is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Mills
- New Sharon
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Taintor
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Taintor is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taintor
- Indianapolis
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Indianapolis is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indianapolis
- Lacey
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Lacey is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacey
- Peoria
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Peoria is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peoria
- Rose Hill
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Rose Hill is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rose Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 161 people
- Keomah Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Keomah Village is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keomah Village
- Population from the 2020 Census: 99 people
- Marshall County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brooklyn, with the one closest to Brooklyn listed first.
- Gilman
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Gilman is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 484 people
- Dunbar
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Dunbar is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunbar
- Dillon
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Dillon is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dillon
- Ferguson
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Ferguson is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ferguson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 122 people
- Le Grand
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Laurel
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Laurel is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel
- Population from the 2020 Census: 234 people
- Haverhill
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Tama County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brooklyn, with the one closest to Brooklyn listed first.
- Chelsea
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Long Point
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Long Point is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Point
- Gladstone
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Gladstone is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gladstone
- Tama
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Vining
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Vining is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vining
- Population from the 2020 Census: 49 people
- Toledo
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Elberon
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Montour
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Clutier
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Garwin
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Garwin is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garwin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 490 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Brooklyn, see our County-by-County Page for Brooklyn.
Cemeteries Near Brooklyn ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Brooklyn.
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 Brooklyn - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Brooklyn covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Brooklyn, with the one closest to Brooklyn listed first.
- Calvary Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- IOOF Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Harmony Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Gwin Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Ivy Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Lytle Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Morrison Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Kent Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Union Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Wilson Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Squires Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Guernsey Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (296 more) ...
- IOOF Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Victor Memorial Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Victor Memorial Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Victor Memorial Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside of Victor
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1163737 <2>
- Calvary Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Brooklyn had a population of 1,202 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Brooklyn had a population of 1,390 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Brooklyn, with the one closest to Brooklyn listed first.
- Carnforth
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Carnforth is located in Poweshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carnforth
- Malcom
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Hartwick
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Hartwick is located in Poweshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartwick
- Population from the 2020 Census: 81 people
- Guernsey
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Victor
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Ewart
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Ewart is located in Poweshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ewart
- Sheridan
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Sheridan is located in Poweshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheridan
- Montezuma
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Deep River
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Deep River is located in Poweshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deep River
- Population from the 2020 Census: 268 people
- Haven
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Haven is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haven
- Ladora
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Chelsea
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Helena
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Helena is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helena
- Koszta
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Koszta is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Koszta
- Belle Plaine
(14 miles [22.5 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 Brooklyn. See our List of 1890's Communities around Brooklyn.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Brooklyn ...
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 151 newspapers that have been published in the area around Brooklyn.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Brooklyn. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Brooklyn and those printed in the larger area surrounding Brooklyn.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4> of Brooklyn.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Brooklyn:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Poweshiek County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Benton County
- Iowa County
- Jasper County
- Keokuk County
- Mahaska County
- Marshall County
- Tama 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 Brooklyn, 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- Brooklyn) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |