RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Iowa >> Cerro Gordo County >> Dougherty >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 Dougherty (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 Dougherty. 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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals 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.

Dougherty is located in Cerro Gordo 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 Cerro Gordo County: Butler, Floyd, Franklin, Hancock, Mitchell, Winnebago, Worth & Wright.

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

  • Cerro Gordo County     (The home county of Dougherty)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dougherty, with the one closest to Dougherty listed first.
    • Cartersville
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
      • Cartersville is located in Cerro Gordo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cartersville
    • Rockwell
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Cameron
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Cameron is located in Cerro Gordo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cameron
    • Portland
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Portland is located in Cerro Gordo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Portland
    • Swaledale
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Swaledale is located in Cerro Gordo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swaledale
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 157 people
    • Burchinal
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Burchinal is located in Cerro Gordo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burchinal
    • Mason City Junction
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Mason City Junction is located in Cerro Gordo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mason City Junction
    • Mason City
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Thornton
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Thornton is located in Cerro Gordo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thornton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 401 people
    • Rock Falls
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Rock Falls is located in Cerro Gordo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Falls
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 146 people
    • Plymouth Junction
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Plymouth Junction is located in Cerro Gordo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plymouth Junction
    • Clear Lake
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Bremer County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dougherty, with the one closest to Dougherty listed first.
    • Plainfield
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Horton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Horton is located in Bremer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horton
  • Butler County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dougherty, with the one closest to Dougherty listed first.
    • Aredale
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Greene
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Dumont
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Bristow
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Bristow is located in Butler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bristow
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 147 people
    • Allison
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Kesley
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Kesley is located in Butler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kesley
    • Butler Center
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Butler Center is located in Butler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butler Center
    • Clarksville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Austinville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Austinville is located in Butler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Austinville
    • Coster
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Coster is located in Butler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coster
    • Aplington
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Parkersburg
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Chickasaw County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dougherty, with the one closest to Dougherty listed first.
    • Nashua
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Nashua is located in Chickasaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nashua
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,571 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Nashua <1>
    • Bradford
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Bradford is located in Chickasaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradford
    • Bassett
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Bassett is located in Chickasaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bassett
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 62 people
    • Chickasaw
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Chickasaw is located in Chickasaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chickasaw
    • Ionia
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Ionia is located in Chickasaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ionia
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 273 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ionia <1>
  • Floyd County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dougherty, with the one closest to Dougherty listed first.
    • Aureola
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Aureola is located in Floyd County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aureola
    • Marble Rock
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Rockford
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Roseville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Roseville is located in Floyd County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roseville
    • Oakwood
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Oakwood is located in Floyd County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood
    • Nora Springs
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Rudd
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Charles City
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Floyd
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Carrville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Carrville is located in Floyd County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carrville
    • Colwell
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Franklin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dougherty, with the one closest to Dougherty listed first.
    • Sheffield
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Sheffield is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheffield
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,096 people
    • Hansell
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Chapin
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Chapin is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapin
    • Hampton
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Geneva
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Latimer
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Reeve
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Reeve is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reeve
    • Faulkner
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Faulkner is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Faulkner
    • Coulter
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Coulter is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coulter
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 261 people
    • Bradford
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Bradford is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradford
    • Alexander
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Alexander is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alexander
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 159 people
    • Popejoy
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Popejoy is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Popejoy
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 74 people
  • Grundy County
    • Buck Grove
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Buck Grove is located in Grundy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buck Grove
  • Hancock County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dougherty, with the one closest to Dougherty listed first.
    • Goodell
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Goodell is located in Hancock County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 126 people
    • Klemme
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
  • Hardin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dougherty, with the one closest to Dougherty listed first.
    • Ackley
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Iowa Falls
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Robertson
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Robertson is located in Hardin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robertson
    • Abbott
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Abbott is located in Hardin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abbott
  • Mitchell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dougherty, with the one closest to Dougherty listed first.
    • Rock Creek
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Rock Creek is located in Mitchell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Creek
    • Orchard
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Orchard is located in Mitchell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orchard
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 71 people
    • Osage
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Osage is located in Mitchell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osage
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,549 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Osage <1>
    • Mitchell
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Mitchell is located in Mitchell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mitchell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 128 people
  • Worth County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dougherty, with the one closest to Dougherty listed first.
    • Manly
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Grafton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Fertile
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Hanlontown
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Hanlontown is located in Worth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanlontown
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
  • Wright County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dougherty, with the one closest to Dougherty listed first.
    • Rowan
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Dows
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Belmond
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)

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

Cemeteries Near Dougherty ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Dougherty.

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

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

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

  • St. Patricks Catholic Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • West Fork Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • St. John Zion Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Haselroad Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Westside Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Hillside Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Linn Grove Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Sacred Heart Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Hillside Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Needham Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
  • Harlan Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
  • Rockford Riverside Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (166 more) ...

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 Dougherty in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Dougherty.

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

  • Aredale
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Marble Rock
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Rockwell
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Sheffield
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Sheffield is located in Franklin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheffield
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,096 people
  • Rockford
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Chapin
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Chapin is located in Franklin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapin
  • Hansell
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
  • Greene
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
  • Dumont
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
  • Bristow
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Bristow is located in Butler County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bristow
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 147 people
  • Cameron
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Cameron is located in Cerro Gordo County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cameron
  • Portland
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Portland is located in Cerro Gordo County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Portland
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Swaledale
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Swaledale is located in Cerro Gordo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swaledale
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 157 people
    • Hampton
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Mason City Junction
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Mason City Junction is located in Cerro Gordo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mason City Junction

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

Newspapers Published in Dougherty ...

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 83 newspapers that have been published in the area around Dougherty.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Dougherty, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Dougherty.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we begin with 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 Dougherty:

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