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 Downey (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 Downey. 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 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.
Downey is located in Cedar 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 Cedar County: Clinton, Johnson, Jones, Linn, Muscatine & Scott.
Below are the counties that are near Downey. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Downey:
- Cedar County (The home county of Downey)
- The following are listed by their distance from Downey, with the one closest to Downey listed first.
- Centerdale
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Centerdale is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerdale
- West Branch
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Springdale
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Springdale is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springdale
- Cedar Valley
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Cedar Valley is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Valley
- Rochester
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Rochester is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rochester
- Cedar Bluff
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Cedar Bluff is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Bluff
- Buchanan
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Buchanan is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buchanan
- Lime City
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Lime City is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lime City
- Former names for Lime City:
- Lime Kilns
- Munn
- Tipton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Mechanicsville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Mechanicsville is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mechanicsville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,116 people
- Bennett
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Bennett is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bennett
- Population from the 2020 Census: 373 people
- Stanwood
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Clinton County
- Wheatland
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Wheatland is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheatland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 724 people
- Iowa County
- Amana
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Johnson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Downey, with the one closest to Downey listed first.
- Midway ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Midway is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
- Oasis
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Oasis is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oasis
- Elmira
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Elmira is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmira
- Lone Tree
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Morse
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Morse is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morse
- Hills
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Iowa City
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- River Junction
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- River Junction is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for River Junction
- University Heights
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- University Heights is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for University Heights
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,025 people
- Coralville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Oakdale
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Oakdale is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakdale
- Solon
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Jones County
- The following are listed by their distance from Downey, with the one closest to Downey listed first.
- Martelle
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Martelle is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martelle
- Population from the 2020 Census: 246 people
- Morley
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Morley is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 110 people
- Olin
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Linn County
- The following are listed by their distance from Downey, with the one closest to Downey listed first.
- Lisbon
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Mount Vernon
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Ely
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Western
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Western is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Western
- Bertram
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Bertram is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bertram
- Population from the 2020 Census: 278 people
- Lincolnway Village
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Lincolnway Village is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lincolnway Village
- Cedar Rapids
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Springville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Squaw Creek Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Squaw Creek Village is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Squaw Creek Village
- Fairfax
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Grand View Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Grand View Village is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grand View Village
- Walford
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Walford is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walford
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,436 people
- Louisa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Downey, with the one closest to Downey listed first.
- Gladwin
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Gladwin is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gladwin
- Letts
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Fredonia
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Fredonia is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fredonia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
- Columbus Junction
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Cotter
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Cotter is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cotter
- Population from the 2020 Census: 42 people
- Columbus City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Columbus City is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbus City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 371 people
- Grandview
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Grandview is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grandview
- Population from the 2020 Census: 519 people
- Wyman
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Wyman is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyman
- Muscatine County
- The following are listed by their distance from Downey, with the one closest to Downey listed first.
- West Liberty
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Atalissa
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Nichols
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Nichols is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nichols
- Population from the 2020 Census: 358 people
- Moscow
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Moscow is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moscow
- Conesville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Conesville is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conesville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 427 people
- South Towne Park
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- South Towne Park is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Towne Park
- Wilton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Muscatine
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Fruitland
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Fruitland is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fruitland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 966 people
- Pleasant Prairie
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Pleasant Prairie is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Prairie
- Stockton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Stockton is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stockton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 189 people
- Fairport
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Fairport is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairport
- Scott County
- The following are listed by their distance from Downey, with the one closest to Downey listed first.
- Durant
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- New Liberty
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- New Liberty is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Liberty
- Population from the 2020 Census: 143 people
- Big Rock
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Big Rock is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Rock
- Walcott
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Blue Grass
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Dixon
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Dixon is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dixon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 249 people
- Hickory Grove
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Hickory Grove is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Grove
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Downey, with the one closest to Downey listed first.
- Riverside
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Kalona
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Ainsworth
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Wellman
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Havre
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Havre is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Havre
- Washington
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Crawfordsville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- West Chester
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- West Chester is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Chester
- Population from the 2020 Census: 147 people
- Mercer County (IL)
- Eliza
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Eliza is located in Mercer County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eliza
- Rock Island County (IL)
- Illinois City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Illinois City is located in Rock Island County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Illinois City
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Downey, see our County-by-County Page for Downey.
Cemeteries Near Downey ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Downey.
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 Downey - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Downey covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Downey, with the one closest to Downey listed first.
- Downey Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Hickory Grove Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Chamness Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Old Friends Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Molback Farm Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- South Prairie Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- West Branch Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- North Prairie Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Mt. Calvary Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Oak Ridge Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Thompson - Cherry Pioneer Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Oasis Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Continue List (347 more) ...
- Gray's Ford Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Springdale Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Fairview Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
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 Downey had a population of 114 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Downey, with the one closest to Downey listed first.
- Centerdale
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Centerdale is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerdale
- West Branch
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Midway ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Midway is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
- West Liberty
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Springdale
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Springdale is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springdale
- Oasis
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Oasis is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oasis
- Graham ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Graham is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graham
- Elmira
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Elmira is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmira
- Plato
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Plato is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plato
- Lone Tree
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Nichols
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Nichols is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nichols
- Population from the 2020 Census: 358 people
- Atalissa
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Cedar Valley
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Cedar Valley is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Valley
- Morse
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Morse is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morse
- Rochester
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Rochester is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rochester
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Downey. See our List of 1890's Communities around Downey.
Newspapers Published in Downey ...
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 56 newspapers that have been published in the area around Downey.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Downey, 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 Downey.
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 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 Downey:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Cedar County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clinton County
- Iowa County
- Johnson County
- Jones County
- Linn County
- Louisa County
- Muscatine County
- Scott County
- Washington County
- Mercer County
- Rock Island 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 Downey, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Downey) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |