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 Coal City (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 Coal City. 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 and hospitals 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.
Coal City is located in Appanoose 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 Appanoose County: Davis, Lucas, Monroe, Wapello, Wayne, Putnam (MO) & Schuyler (MO).
Below are the counties that are near Coal City. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Coal City:
- Appanoose County (The home county of Coal City)
- The following are listed by their distance from Coal City, with the one closest to Coal City listed first.
- Moulton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Moulton is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moulton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 580 people
- Exline
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Exline is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Exline
- Population from the 2020 Census: 154 people
- Orleans
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Orleans is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orleans
- Cincinnati
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Cincinnati is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cincinnati
- Population from the 2020 Census: 345 people
- Udell
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Udell is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Udell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 44 people
- Centerville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Numa
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Numa is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Numa
- Population from the 2020 Census: 89 people
- Sunshine
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Sunshine is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunshine
- Unionville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Brazil
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Brazil is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brazil
- Clarkdale
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Clarkdale is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarkdale
- Rathbun
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Rathbun is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rathbun
- Population from the 2020 Census: 72 people
- Darbyville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Darbyville is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darbyville
- Davis County
- The following are listed by their distance from Coal City, with the one closest to Coal City listed first.
- Mark
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Mark is located in Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mark
- West Grove
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- West Grove is located in Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Grove
- Savannah
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Savannah is located in Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Savannah
- Paris
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Paris is located in Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paris
- Drakesville
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Stiles
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Stiles is located in Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stiles
- Bloomfield
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Steuben
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Steuben is located in Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steuben
- Pulaski
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Pulaski is located in Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pulaski
- Population from the 2020 Census: 291 people
- Carbon
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Carbon is located in Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carbon
- Floris
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Floris is located in Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Floris
- Population from the 2020 Census: 143 people
- Chequest
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Chequest is located in Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chequest
- Monroe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Coal City, with the one closest to Coal City listed first.
- Selection
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Selection is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Selection
- Albia
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Van Buren County
- Milton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Wapello County
- The following are listed by their distance from Coal City, with the one closest to Coal City listed first.
- Blakesburg
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Bidwell
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Bidwell is located in Wapello County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bidwell
- Wayne County
- The following are listed by their distance from Coal City, with the one closest to Coal City listed first.
- Genoa
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Genoa is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Genoa
- Seymour
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Promise City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Promise City is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Promise City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 110 people
- Confidence
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Confidence is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Confidence
- Adair County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Coal City, with the one closest to Coal City listed first.
- Danforth ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Danforth is located in Adair County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danforth
- Novinger
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Novinger is located in Adair County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Novinger
- Population from the 2020 Census: 431 people
- Kirksville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Tipperary ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Tipperary is located in Adair County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tipperary
- Putnam County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Coal City, with the one closest to Coal City listed first.
- Livonia
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Livonia is located in Putnam County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Livonia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 71 people
- Mendota
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Mendota is located in Putnam County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mendota
- Pearl City
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Pearl City is located in Putnam County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pearl City
- Worthington
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Worthington is located in Putnam County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Worthington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 76 people
- Unionville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Saint John
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Saint John is located in Putnam County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint John
- Powersville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Powersville is located in Putnam County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powersville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 54 people
- Schuyler County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Coal City, with the one closest to Coal City listed first.
- Coatsville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Coatsville is located in Schuyler County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coatsville
- Glenwood
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Glenwood is located in Schuyler County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 201 people
- Julesburg
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Julesburg is located in Schuyler County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Julesburg
- Lancaster
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Queen City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Queen City is located in Schuyler County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Queen City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 607 people
- Clifton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Clifton is located in Schuyler County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifton
- Greentop
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Downing
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Downing is located in Schuyler County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Downing
- Population from the 2020 Census: 341 people
- Scotland County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Coal City, with the one closest to Coal City listed first.
- Kilwinning
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Kilwinning is located in Scotland County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kilwinning
- Unity
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Unity is located in Scotland County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unity
- Memphis
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Pleasant Retreat
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Pleasant Retreat is located in Scotland County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Retreat
- Sullivan County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Coal City, with the one closest to Coal City listed first.
- Pennville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Pennville is located in Sullivan County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pennville
- Greencastle
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Pollock
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Pollock is located in Sullivan County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pollock
- Population from the 2020 Census: 79 people
- Green City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Green City is located in Sullivan County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 582 people
- Boynton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Boynton is located in Sullivan County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boynton
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Coal City, see our County-by-County Page for Coal City.
Cemeteries Near Coal City ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Coal City.
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 Coal City - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Coal City covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Coal City, with the one closest to Coal City listed first.
- Hilltown Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Bratcher Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Dean Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Davis Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Chapel Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Hargrave Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Union Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Mitchell Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Berry Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Pleasant Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Kerby Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Croft Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Continue List (383 more) ...
- Salem Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Zoar Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Shoney Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
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>
While we didn't find Coal City in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Coal City.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Coal City, with the one closest to Coal City listed first.
- Dean
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Dean is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dean
- Chariton
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Chariton is located in Putnam County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chariton
- Coatsville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Coatsville is located in Schuyler County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coatsville
- Omaha
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Omaha is located in Putnam County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omaha
- Moulton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Moulton is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moulton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 580 people
- Glendale
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Glendale is located in Putnam County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glendale
- Livonia
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Livonia is located in Putnam County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Livonia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 71 people
- Monterey
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Monterey is located in Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monterey
- Sedan
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Sedan is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sedan
- Exline
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Exline is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Exline
- Population from the 2020 Census: 154 people
- Glenwood Junction
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Glenwood Junction is located in Schuyler County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenwood Junction
- Mendota
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Mendota is located in Putnam County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mendota
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Glenwood
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Glenwood is located in Schuyler County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 201 people
- Hartford
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Hartford is located in Putnam County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartford
- Graysville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Graysville is located in Putnam County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graysville
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Coal City. See our List of 1890's Communities around Coal City.
Newspapers Published in Coal City ...
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 170 newspapers that have been published in the area around Coal City.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Coal City, 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 Coal City.
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 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 Coal City:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Appanoose County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Davis County
- Monroe County
- Van Buren County
- Wapello County
- Wayne County
- Adair County
- Putnam County
- Schuyler County
- Scotland County
- Sullivan 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 Coal City, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Coal City) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |