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 Crocker (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 Crocker. 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 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.
Crocker is located in Polk 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 Polk County: Boone, Dallas, Jasper, Madison, Marion, Story & Warren.
Below are the counties that are near Crocker. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Crocker:
- Polk County (The home county of Crocker)
- The following are listed by their distance from Crocker, with the one closest to Crocker listed first.
- Polk City Junction
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Polk City Junction is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Polk City Junction
- Polk City
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Alleman
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Alleman is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alleman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 447 people
- Ankeny
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Andrews
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Andrews is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Andrews
- Herrold
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Herrold is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herrold
- Sheldahl
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Sheldahl is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheldahl
- Population from the 2020 Census: 325 people
- Johnston
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Saylorville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Saylorville is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saylorville
- Carney
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Carney is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carney
- Elkhart
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Grimes
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Boone County
- The following are listed by their distance from Crocker, with the one closest to Crocker listed first.
- Madrid
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Luther
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Luther is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Luther
- Population from the 2020 Census: 133 people
- Jordan
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Jordan is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jordan
- Moingona
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Moingona is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moingona
- Boone
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Berkley
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Berkley is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berkley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 33 people
- Centerville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Centerville is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
- Ogden
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Mackey
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Mackey is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mackey
- Fraser
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Fraser is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fraser
- Population from the 2020 Census: 103 people
- Beaver
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Beaver is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver
- Population from the 2020 Census: 50 people
- Dallas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Crocker, with the one closest to Crocker listed first.
- High Bridge
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- High Bridge is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High Bridge
- Granger
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Xenia
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Xenia is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Xenia
- Woodward
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Waukee
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Dallas Center
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Bouton
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Minburn
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Minburn is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minburn
- Population from the 2020 Census: 357 people
- Booneville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Adel
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Van Meter
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Perry
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Greene County
- Rippey
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Rippey is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rippey
- Population from the 2020 Census: 269 people
- Jasper County
- The following are listed by their distance from Crocker, with the one closest to Crocker listed first.
- Valeria
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Valeria is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valeria
- Population from the 2020 Census: 58 people
- Mingo
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Oswalt
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Oswalt is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oswalt
- Clyde
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Clyde is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clyde
- Green Castle
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Green Castle is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Castle
- Colfax
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Ira
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Ira is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ira
- Goddard
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Goddard is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goddard
- Vandalia
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Vandalia is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vandalia
- Prairie City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Baxter
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Metz
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Metz is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Metz
- Madison County
- Earlham
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Crocker, with the one closest to Crocker listed first.
- Swan
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Swan is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swan
- Population from the 2020 Census: 74 people
- Percy ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Percy is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Percy
- Marshall County
- The following are listed by their distance from Crocker, with the one closest to Crocker listed first.
- Rhodes
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Rhodes is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rhodes
- Population from the 2020 Census: 298 people
- State Center
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Story County
- The following are listed by their distance from Crocker, with the one closest to Crocker listed first.
- Slater
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Huxley
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Midvale
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Midvale is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midvale
- Cambridge
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Kelley
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Maxwell
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Shipley
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Shipley is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shipley
- Ames
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Iowa Center
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Iowa Center is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iowa Center
- Ontario
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Ontario is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ontario
- Collins
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Collins is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collins
- Population from the 2020 Census: 472 people
- Nevada
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Warren County
- The following are listed by their distance from Crocker, with the one closest to Crocker listed first.
- Lakewood
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Lakewood is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood
- Orillia
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Orillia is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orillia
- Cumming
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Prole
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Prole is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prole
- Spring Hill
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Spring Hill is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 65 people
- Hartford
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Churchville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Churchville is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Churchville
- Palmyra
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Palmyra is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmyra
- Martensdale
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Indianola
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Ackworth
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Ackworth is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ackworth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 105 people
- Bevington
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Crocker, see our County-by-County Page for Crocker.
Cemeteries Near Crocker ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Crocker.
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 Crocker - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Crocker covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Crocker, with the one closest to Crocker listed first.
- Crocker Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Polk City Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Beebe Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Davis Farm Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Union Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Lincoln Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Ankeny Memorial Gardens
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Lem Small Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Lincoln Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Valley View Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Willie Coons Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Sheldahl Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheldahl Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Sheldahl Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the south of Sheldahl.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #96327 <2>
- Continue List (279 more) ...
- Ridgedale Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Rittgers Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Oralabor Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
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 in 1895, Crocker had railroad service and no post office.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Crocker, with the one closest to Crocker listed first.
- Polk City Junction
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Polk City Junction is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Polk City Junction
- Ankeny
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Sheldahl
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Sheldahl is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheldahl
- Population from the 2020 Census: 325 people
- Saylorville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Saylorville is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saylorville
- Oralabor
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Oralabor is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oralabor
- Elkhart
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Slater
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Ingersoll ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Ingersoll is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ingersoll
- Grimes
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Saylor
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Saylor is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saylor
- High Bridge
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- High Bridge is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High Bridge
- Granger
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Berwick
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Berwick is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berwick
- Huxley
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Madrid
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Crocker. See our List of 1890's Communities around Crocker.
Newspapers Published in Crocker ...
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 283 newspapers that have been published in the area around Crocker.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Crocker, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Crocker.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to 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 Crocker:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Polk County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Boone County
- Dallas County
- Greene County
- Jasper County
- Madison County
- Marion County
- Marshall County
- Story County
- Warren 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 Crocker, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Crocker) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |