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 Center Point (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 Center Point. 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.
Name Variations for Center Point ...
When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
Another variation: Centerpoint.
- A typical abbreviation for Center Point: Center Pt.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Center Point. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Center Point.
If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.
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 doctors 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.
Center Point is located in Linn 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 Linn County: Benton, Buchanan, Cedar, Delaware, Iowa, Johnson & Jones.
Below are the counties that are near Center Point. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Center Point:
- Linn County (The home county of Center Point)
- The following are listed by their distance from Center Point, with the one closest to Center Point listed first.
- Lafayette
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Lafayette is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lafayette
- Toddville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Walker
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Walker is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walker
- Population from the 2020 Census: 782 people
- Alburnett
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Troy Mills
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Palo
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Robins
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Robins is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robins
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,570 people
- Paris ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Paris is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paris
- Hiawatha
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Sunset Village
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Sunset Village is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunset Village
- Covington
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Covington is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Covington
- Louisa
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Louisa is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Louisa
- Benton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Center Point, with the one closest to Center Point listed first.
- Urbana
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Shellsburg
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Spencers Grove
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Spencers Grove is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spencers Grove
- Benton City ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Benton City is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton City
- Vinton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Atkins
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Newhall
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Mount Auburn
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Mount Auburn is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Auburn
- Population from the 2020 Census: 144 people
- Garrison
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Garrison is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garrison
- Population from the 2020 Census: 355 people
- Van Horne
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Van Horne is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Van Horne
- Population from the 2020 Census: 646 people
- Norway
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Watkins
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Watkins is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watkins
- Black Hawk County
- The following are listed by their distance from Center Point, with the one closest to Center Point listed first.
- Jubilee
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Jubilee is located in Black Hawk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jubilee
- La Porte City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Jesup
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Gilbertville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Gilbertville is located in Black Hawk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilbertville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 725 people
- Raymond
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Raymond is located in Black Hawk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raymond
- Population from the 2020 Census: 788 people
- Elk Run Heights
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Elk Run Heights is located in Black Hawk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elk Run Heights
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,135 people
- Eagle Center
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Eagle Center is located in Black Hawk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagle Center
- Buchanan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Center Point, with the one closest to Center Point listed first.
- Hamerville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Hamerville is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamerville
- Rowley
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Quasqueton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Brandon
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Brandon is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brandon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 320 people
- Monti
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Monti is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monti
- Shady Grove
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Shady Grove is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shady Grove
- Doris
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Doris is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doris
- Independence
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Winthrop
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Winthrop is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winthrop
- Population from the 2020 Census: 848 people
- Lamont
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Aurora
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Aurora is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aurora
- Population from the 2020 Census: 162 people
- Hazleton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Delaware County
- The following are listed by their distance from Center Point, with the one closest to Center Point listed first.
- Robinson
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Robinson is located in Delaware County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robinson
- Ehler
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Ehler is located in Delaware County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ehler
- Ryan
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Golden
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Golden is located in Delaware County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Golden
- Masonville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Masonville is located in Delaware County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Masonville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 119 people
- Manchester
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Delhi
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Delaware
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Delaware is located in Delaware County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delaware
- Population from the 2020 Census: 149 people
- Dundee
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Hopkinton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Iowa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Center Point, with the one closest to Center Point listed first.
- Amana
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Middle Amana
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- West Amana
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- West Amana is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Amana
- South Amana
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Marengo
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Johnson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Center Point, with the one closest to Center Point listed first.
- Swisher
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Shueyville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Shueyville is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shueyville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 655 people
- Cou Falls
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Cou Falls is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cou Falls
- Solon
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Jones County
- The following are listed by their distance from Center Point, with the one closest to Center Point listed first.
- Argand
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Argand is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argand
- Stone City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Stone City is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stone City
- Fairview
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Fairview is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
- Martelle
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Martelle is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martelle
- Population from the 2020 Census: 246 people
- Anamosa
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Langworthy
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Langworthy is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langworthy
- Morley
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Morley is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 110 people
- Amber
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Amber is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amber
- Monticello
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Tama County
- The following are listed by their distance from Center Point, with the one closest to Center Point listed first.
- Dysart
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Elberon
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Center Point, see our County-by-County Page for Center Point.
Cemeteries Near Center Point ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Center Point.
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 Center Point - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Center Point covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Center Point, with the one closest to Center Point listed first.
- Center Point Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Green's Grove Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Ashlock Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- McBroom Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Pleasant Ridge Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Squires Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Oliphant Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Alice Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Davis Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Lafayette Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lafayette Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Lafayette Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located 2 miles [3.2 km]<2> to the west of Alburnett.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1310971 <3>
- Urbana Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Kisling Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Continue List (271 more) ...
- Strawn Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Dunkard Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Walker Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
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 Center Point had a population of 675 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Center Point had a population of 2,560 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Center Point, with the one closest to Center Point listed first.
- Lafayette
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Lafayette is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lafayette
- Toddville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Walker
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Walker is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walker
- Population from the 2020 Census: 782 people
- Shellsburg
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Palo
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Troy Mills
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Paris ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Paris is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paris
- Covington
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Covington is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Covington
- Louisa
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Louisa is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Louisa
- Vinton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Rowley
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Atkins
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Marion
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Central City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Coggon
(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 Center Point. See our List of 1890's Communities around Center Point.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Center Point ...
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 147 newspapers that have been published in the area around Center Point.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Center Point. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Center Point and those printed in the larger area surrounding Center Point.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<2> of Center Point.
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 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 Center Point:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Linn County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Benton County
- Black Hawk County
- Buchanan County
- Delaware County
- Iowa County
- Johnson County
- Jones 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> | 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- Center Point) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <3> | 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. |
| <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 Center Point, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |