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 Cairo (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 Cairo. 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 doctors and hospitals 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.
Cairo is located in Louisa 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 Louisa County: Des Moines, Henry, Johnson, Muscatine, Washington, Mercer (IL) & Rock Island (IL).
Below are the counties that are near Cairo. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Cairo:
- Louisa County (The home county of Cairo)
- The following are listed by their distance from Cairo, with the one closest to Cairo listed first.
- Columbus City
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Columbus City is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbus City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 371 people
- Columbus Junction
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Fredonia
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Fredonia is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fredonia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
- Wapello
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Wapello is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wapello
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,999 people
- Morning Sun
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Wyman
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Wyman is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyman
- Grandview
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Grandview is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grandview
- Population from the 2020 Census: 519 people
- Cotter
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Cotter is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cotter
- Population from the 2020 Census: 42 people
- Letts
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Elrick Junction
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Elrick Junction is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elrick Junction
- Gladwin
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Gladwin is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gladwin
- Oakville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Cedar County
- Downey
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Downey is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Downey
- Des Moines County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cairo, with the one closest to Cairo listed first.
- Yarmouth
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Mediapolis
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Sperry
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Sperry is located in Des Moines County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sperry
- Dodgeville
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Dodgeville is located in Des Moines County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dodgeville
- Kline
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Kline is located in Des Moines County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kline
- Kingston
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Kingston is located in Des Moines County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingston
- Danville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Danville is located in Des Moines County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 896 people
- Middletown
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Middletown is located in Des Moines County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middletown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 335 people
- West Burlington
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Burlington
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Henry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cairo, with the one closest to Cairo listed first.
- Winfield
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Mount Union
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Mount Union is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Union
- Estimated population in 2017: 107 people
- Olds
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Olds is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olds
- Population from the 2020 Census: 222 people
- Swedesburg
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Swedesburg is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swedesburg
- Wayland
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- New London
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Mount Pleasant
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Westwood
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Westwood is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 107 people
- Oakland Mills
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Oakland Mills is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland Mills
- Rome
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Rome is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rome
- Population from the 2020 Census: 117 people
- Lowell
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Lowell is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowell
- Salem
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cairo, with the one closest to Cairo listed first.
- Lockridge
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Pleasant Plain
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Pleasant Plain is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Plain
- Population from the 2020 Census: 98 people
- Glasgow
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Glasgow is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glasgow
- Perlee
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Perlee is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perlee
- Johnson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cairo, with the one closest to Cairo listed first.
- Lone Tree
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- River Junction
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- River Junction is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for River Junction
- Hills
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Lee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cairo, with the one closest to Cairo listed first.
- South Augusta
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- South Augusta is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Augusta
- Denmark
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Saint Paul
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Saint Paul is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Paul
- Population from the 2020 Census: 123 people
- Muscatine County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cairo, with the one closest to Cairo listed first.
- Conesville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Conesville is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conesville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 427 people
- Fruitland
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Fruitland is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fruitland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 966 people
- Nichols
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Nichols is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nichols
- Population from the 2020 Census: 358 people
- Muscatine
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- West Liberty
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Fairport
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Fairport is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairport
- Atalissa
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Moscow
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Moscow is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moscow
- Pine Mills ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Pine Mills is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Mills
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cairo, with the one closest to Cairo listed first.
- Crawfordsville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Ainsworth
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Havre
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Havre is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Havre
- Washington
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Coppock
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Coppock is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coppock
- Population from the 2020 Census: 48 people
- Riverside
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Brighton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- West Chester
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- West Chester is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Chester
- Population from the 2020 Census: 147 people
- Kalona
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Henderson County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Cairo, with the one closest to Cairo listed first.
- Milroy
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Milroy is located in Henderson County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milroy
- Oquawka
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Gulf Port
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Gulf Port is located in Henderson County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gulf Port
- Population from the 2020 Census: 46 people
- Gladstone
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Rozetta
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Rozetta is located in Henderson County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rozetta
- Mercer County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Cairo, with the one closest to Cairo listed first.
- New Boston
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Mannon
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Mannon is located in Mercer County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mannon
- Eliza
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Eliza is located in Mercer County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eliza
- Keithsburg
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Petersville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Petersville is located in Mercer County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petersville
- Joy
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Joy is located in Mercer County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 377 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Joy <1>
- Seaton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Marston
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Marston is located in Mercer County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marston
- Aledo
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Rock Island County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Cairo, with the one closest to Cairo listed first.
- Buffalo Prairie
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Illinois City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Illinois City is located in Rock Island County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Illinois City
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Cairo, see our County-by-County Page for Cairo.
Cemeteries Near Cairo ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Cairo.
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 Cairo - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Cairo covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Cairo, with the one closest to Cairo listed first.
- Cairo Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Griswold Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Oakland Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Slaughter Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Virginia Grove Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Marshall Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Long Creek Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Grim Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Bretz Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Spring Run Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Hayes Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Buffington Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (406 more) ...
- May Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Rice Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Columbus City Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
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 Cairo had a population of 127 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Cairo, with the one closest to Cairo listed first.
- Bard
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Bard is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bard
- Marsh
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Marsh is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marsh
- Columbus City
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Columbus City is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbus City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 371 people
- Winfield
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Columbus Junction
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Fredonia
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Fredonia is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fredonia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
- Morning Sun
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Wapello
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Wapello is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wapello
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,999 people
- Wyman
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Wyman is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyman
- Mount Union
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Mount Union is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Union
- Estimated population in 2017: 107 people
- Newport
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Newport is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newport
- Grandview
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Grandview is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grandview
- Population from the 2020 Census: 519 people
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Yarmouth
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Cotter
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Cotter is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cotter
- Population from the 2020 Census: 42 people
- Port Allen ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Port Allen is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Port Allen
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Cairo. See our List of 1890's Communities around Cairo.
Newspapers Published in Cairo ...
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 79 newspapers that have been published in the area around Cairo.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Cairo, 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 Cairo.
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 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 Cairo:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Louisa County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cedar County
- Des Moines County
- Henry County
- Jefferson County
- Johnson County
- Lee County
- Muscatine County
- Washington County
- Henderson County
- Mercer County
- Rock Island 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 Cairo, 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- Cairo) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |