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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 Castalia (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 Castalia. 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 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.

Castalia is located in Winneshiek 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 Winneshiek County: Allamakee, Chickasaw, Clayton, Fayette, Howard, Fillmore (MN) & Houston (MN).

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

  • Winneshiek County     (The home county of Castalia)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Castalia, with the one closest to Castalia listed first.
    • Ossian
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Frankville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Frankville is located in Winneshiek County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frankville
    • Festina
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Calmar
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Fort Atkinson
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Decorah
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Spillville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Jackson Junction
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Jackson Junction is located in Winneshiek County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jackson Junction
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 54 people
    • Navan
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Navan is located in Winneshiek County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Navan
    • Ridgeway
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Highlandville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Highlandville is located in Winneshiek County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highlandville
    • Bluffton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Bluffton is located in Winneshiek County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluffton
    • Burr Oak
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
  • Allamakee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Castalia, with the one closest to Castalia listed first.
    • Postville
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Waukon
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Waukon is located in Allamakee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waukon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,600 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Waukon <1>
    • Volney
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Volney is located in Allamakee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Volney
    • Rossville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Rossville is located in Allamakee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rossville
    • Lycurgus
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Lycurgus is located in Allamakee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lycurgus
    • Ion
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Ion is located in Allamakee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ion
    • Waterville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Waterville is located in Allamakee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 142 people
    • Elon
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Elon is located in Allamakee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elon
    • Dalby
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Dalby is located in Allamakee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dalby
    • Quandahl
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Quandahl is located in Allamakee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quandahl
    • Waukon Junction
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Waukon Junction is located in Allamakee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waukon Junction
    • Dorchester
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Harpers Ferry
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
  • Bremer County
    • Sumner
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Chickasaw County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Castalia, with the one closest to Castalia listed first.
    • Lawler
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Fredericksburg
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Jerico
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Jerico is located in Chickasaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jerico
  • Clayton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Castalia, with the one closest to Castalia listed first.
    • Hardin
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Hardin is located in Clayton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hardin
    • Luana
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Gunder
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Gunder is located in Clayton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gunder
    • Monona
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Watson
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Watson is located in Clayton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watson
    • Farmersburg
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Farmersburg is located in Clayton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farmersburg
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 264 people
    • Beulah
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Beulah is located in Clayton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beulah
    • Saint Olaf
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Volga
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Volga is located in Clayton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Volga
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 193 people
    • Elkader
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Clayton Center
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Clayton Center is located in Clayton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clayton Center
    • Marquette
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • McGregor
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
  • Fayette County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Castalia, with the one closest to Castalia listed first.
    • Clermont
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Elgin
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Brainard
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Brainard is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brainard
    • Douglass
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Douglass is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Douglass
    • West Union
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Saint Lucas
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Saint Lucas is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Lucas
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 134 people
    • Illyria
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Illyria is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Illyria
    • Donnan
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Donnan is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Donnan
    • Wadena
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Hawkeye
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Hawkeye is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawkeye
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 399 people
    • Waucoma
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Fayette
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Alpha
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Alpha is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alpha
  • Howard County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Castalia, with the one closest to Castalia listed first.
    • Protivin
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Cresco
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Vernon Springs
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Vernon Springs is located in Howard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vernon Springs
  • Fillmore County (MN)
    • Mabel
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Mabel is located in Fillmore County (MN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mabel
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 744 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mabel <1>
  • Houston County (MN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Castalia, with the one closest to Castalia listed first.
    • Bee
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Bee is located in Houston County (MN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bee
    • Eitzen
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Eitzen is located in Houston County (MN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eitzen
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 248 people
    • Spring Grove
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
    • Wilmington
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Wilmington is located in Houston County (MN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmington
  • Crawford County (WI)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Castalia, with the one closest to Castalia listed first.
    • Charme
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Charme is located in Crawford County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charme
    • Prairie du Chien
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Prairie du Chien is located in Crawford County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie du Chien
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,531 people
  • Grant County (WI)
    • Wyalusing
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Wyalusing is located in Grant County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyalusing

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

Cemeteries Near Castalia ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Castalia.

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 Castalia - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Pleasant View Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Bloomfield Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Mt. Grove Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Oak Hill Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Roy Schultz Property Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Centennial Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Moneek Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Hillside Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • St. Francis DeSales Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Bethany Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Bethany Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Postville Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (336 more) ...
    • Ossian Community Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Stavanger Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Nutting Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)

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 Castalia had a population of 122 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Castalia had a population of 156 people.

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

  • Ossian
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Postville
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Dover Mills
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Dover Mills is located in Fayette County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dover Mills
  • Frankville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Frankville is located in Winneshiek County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frankville
  • Clermont
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Eldorado
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Eldorado is located in Fayette County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eldorado
  • Hardin
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Hardin is located in Clayton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hardin
  • Nordness
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Nordness is located in Winneshiek County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nordness
  • Festina
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
  • Elgin
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
  • Calmar
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Luana
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...
    • Washington Prairie
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Washington Prairie is located in Winneshiek County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Washington Prairie
    • Douglass
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Douglass is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Douglass
    • West Union
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)

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

Newspapers Published in Castalia ...

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 166 newspapers that have been published in the area around Castalia.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Castalia, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Castalia.

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 Castalia:

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 Castalia, 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- Castalia) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.