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 Derby (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 Derby. 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 and doctors 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.
Derby is located in Lucas 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 Lucas County: Appanoose, Clarke, Decatur, Marion, Monroe, Warren & Wayne.
Below are the counties that are near Derby. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Derby:
- Lucas County (The home county of Derby)
- The following are listed by their distance from Derby, with the one closest to Derby listed first.
- Lucas
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Lucas is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucas
- Population from the 2020 Census: 207 people
- Chariton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Russell
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Williamson
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Zero
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Zero is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zero
- Olmitz
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Olmitz is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olmitz
- Appanoose County
- The following are listed by their distance from Derby, with the one closest to Derby listed first.
- Plano
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Iconium
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Iconium is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iconium
- Jerome
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Jerome is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jerome
- Walnut City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Walnut City is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut City
- Mystic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Mystic is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mystic
- Population from the 2020 Census: 410 people
- Brazil
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Brazil is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brazil
- Clarkdale
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Clarkdale is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarkdale
- Numa
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Numa is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Numa
- Population from the 2020 Census: 89 people
- Sunshine
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Sunshine is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunshine
- Clarke County
- The following are listed by their distance from Derby, with the one closest to Derby listed first.
- Woodburn
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Weldon
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Weldon is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weldon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 104 people
- Green Bay ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Green Bay is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Bay
- Osceola
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Liberty
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Liberty is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty
- Lacelle
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Lacelle is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacelle
- Murray
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Murray is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murray
- Population from the 2020 Census: 681 people
- Hopeville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Hopeville is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopeville
- Decatur County
- The following are listed by their distance from Derby, with the one closest to Derby listed first.
- Le Roy
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Le Roy is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Le Roy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 14 people
- Garden Grove
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Garden Grove is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 200 people
- Woodland
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Woodland is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland
- Van Wert
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Van Wert is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Van Wert
- Population from the 2020 Census: 208 people
- Leon
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Morgan
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Morgan is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan
- Decatur City
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Decatur City is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Decatur City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 181 people
- Davis City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Davis City is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 187 people
- Grand River
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Grand River is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grand River
- Population from the 2020 Census: 215 people
- Pleasanton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Pleasanton is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasanton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 44 people
- Madison County
- The following are listed by their distance from Derby, with the one closest to Derby listed first.
- Truro
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Saint Charles
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Derby, with the one closest to Derby listed first.
- Newbern
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Newbern is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newbern
- Bauer
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Bauer is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bauer
- Columbia
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Columbia is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbia
- Melcher - Dallas
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Melcher - Dallas is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melcher - Dallas
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,236 people
- Indiana
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Indiana is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indiana
- Attica
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Attica is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Attica
- Monroe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Derby, with the one closest to Derby listed first.
- Melrose
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Georgetown
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Georgetown is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgetown
- Warren County
- The following are listed by their distance from Derby, with the one closest to Derby listed first.
- Lacona
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Liberty Center
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Liberty Center is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty Center
- Cool
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Cool is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cool
- New Virginia
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Milo
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Clarkson ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Clarkson is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarkson
- Saint Marys
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Saint Marys is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Marys
- Population from the 2020 Census: 127 people
- Ackworth
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Ackworth is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ackworth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 105 people
- Indianola
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Sandyville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Sandyville is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandyville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 54 people
- Wayne County
- The following are listed by their distance from Derby, with the one closest to Derby listed first.
- Humeston
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Millerton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Millerton is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millerton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 42 people
- Corydon
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Allerton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Confidence
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Confidence is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Confidence
- Hodge
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Hodge is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hodge
- Clio
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Clio is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clio
- Population from the 2020 Census: 73 people
- Promise City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Promise City is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Promise City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 110 people
- Lineville
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Lineville is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lineville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 217 people
- Seymour
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Genoa
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Genoa is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Genoa
- Mercer County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Derby, with the one closest to Derby listed first.
- South Lineville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- South Lineville is located in Mercer County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Lineville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 27 people
- Mercer
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Putnam County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Derby, with the one closest to Derby listed first.
- Powersville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Powersville is located in Putnam County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powersville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 54 people
- Saint John
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Saint John is located in Putnam County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint John
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Derby, see our County-by-County Page for Derby.
Cemeteries Near Derby ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Derby.
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 Derby - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Derby covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Derby, with the one closest to Derby listed first.
- Webb Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Derby Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Goshen Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Murray Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Humeston Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Gay Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Gwinn Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Woods Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Woods Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Last Chance Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Freedom Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Waynick Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (331 more) ...
- Cambria Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Sharon Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Grimes Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 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.<2>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Derby had a population of 197 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Derby had a population of 111 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Derby, with the one closest to Derby listed first.
- Humeston
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Lucas
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Lucas is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucas
- Population from the 2020 Census: 207 people
- Cambria
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Cambria is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cambria
- Le Roy
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Le Roy is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Le Roy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 14 people
- Ovia
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Ovia is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ovia
- Whitebreast
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Whitebreast is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitebreast
- Smyrna
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Smyrna is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smyrna
- Chariton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Indianola Junction
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Indianola Junction is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indianola Junction
- Woodburn
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Garden Grove
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Garden Grove is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 200 people
- New York
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- New York is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New York
- Continue List (20 more) ...
- Saxon
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Saxon is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saxon
- Oakley
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Oakley is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakley
- Norwood
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Norwood is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwood
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Derby. See our List of 1890's Communities around Derby.
Newspapers Published in Derby ...
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 112 newspapers that have been published in the area around Derby.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Derby, 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 Derby.
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 helpful 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 Derby:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Lucas County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Appanoose County
- Clarke County
- Decatur County
- Madison County
- Marion County
- Monroe County
- Warren County
- Wayne County
- Mercer County
- Putnam 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 Derby, 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' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Derby) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |