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 Elk Horn (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 Elk Horn. 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.
Name Variations for Elk Horn ...
When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.
Another variation: Elkhorn.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Elk Horn. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Elk Horn.
If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.
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.
Elk Horn is located in Shelby 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 Shelby County: Audubon, Carroll, Cass, Crawford, Harrison & Pottawattamie.
Below are the counties that are near Elk Horn. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Elk Horn:
- Shelby County (The home county of Elk Horn)
- The following are listed by their distance from Elk Horn, with the one closest to Elk Horn listed first.
- Corley
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Corley is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corley
- Kirkman
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Kirkman is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kirkman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 61 people
- Harlan
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Irwin
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Botna
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Botna is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Botna
- Westphalia
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Westphalia is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westphalia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 117 people
- Tennant
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Tennant is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tennant
- Population from the 2020 Census: 63 people
- Shelby
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Defiance
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Defiance is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Defiance
- Population from the 2020 Census: 260 people
- Earling
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Earling is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Earling
- Population from the 2020 Census: 403 people
- Panama
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Portsmouth
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Audubon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Elk Horn, with the one closest to Elk Horn listed first.
- Kimballton
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Brayton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Exira
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Hamlin
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Hamlin is located in Audubon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamlin
- Fiscus
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Fiscus is located in Audubon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fiscus
- Audubon
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Ross
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Ross is located in Audubon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ross
- Gray
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Carroll County
- The following are listed by their distance from Elk Horn, with the one closest to Elk Horn listed first.
- Manning
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Templeton
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Dedham
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Coon Rapids
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Halbur
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Halbur is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halbur
- Population from the 2020 Census: 252 people
- Roselle
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Roselle is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roselle
- Willey
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Willey is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willey
- Population from the 2020 Census: 97 people
- Cass County
- The following are listed by their distance from Elk Horn, with the one closest to Elk Horn listed first.
- Marne
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Atlantic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Sycamore Village
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Sycamore Village is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sycamore Village
- Grove City ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Grove City is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grove City
- Wiota
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Anita
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Lewis
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Norway Center
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Norway Center is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norway Center
- Cumberland
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Cumberland is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cumberland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 246 people
- Griswold
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Lyman
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Lyman is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lyman
- Massena
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Crawford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Elk Horn, with the one closest to Elk Horn listed first.
- Astor
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Astor is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Astor
- Aspinwall
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Aspinwall is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aspinwall
- Population from the 2020 Census: 40 people
- Manilla
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Buck Grove
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Buck Grove is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buck Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 43 people
- Guthrie County
- The following are listed by their distance from Elk Horn, with the one closest to Elk Horn listed first.
- North Branch
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- North Branch is located in Guthrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Branch
- Adair
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Casey
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Guthrie Center
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Harrison County
- The following are listed by their distance from Elk Horn, with the one closest to Elk Horn listed first.
- Persia
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Persia is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Persia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 281 people
- Yorkshire
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Yorkshire is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorkshire
- Pottawattamie County
- The following are listed by their distance from Elk Horn, with the one closest to Elk Horn listed first.
- Walnut
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Walnut is located in Pottawattamie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut
- Population from the 2020 Census: 768 people
- Avoca
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Avoca is located in Pottawattamie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avoca
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,537 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Avoca <1>
- Harlan Junction ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Harlan Junction is located in Pottawattamie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harlan Junction
- Hancock
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Hancock is located in Pottawattamie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hancock
- Population from the 2020 Census: 196 people
- Oakland
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Minden
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Carson
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Neola
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Elk Horn, see our County-by-County Page for Elk Horn.
Cemeteries Near Elk Horn ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Elk Horn.
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 Elk Horn - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Elk Horn covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Elk Horn, with the one closest to Elk Horn listed first.
- Elk Horn Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Carlsen - Larsen Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Clay Twp. Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Immanuel Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Oakfield Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Oak Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Adventist Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- St. Johns Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Bethlehem Lutheran Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Monroe Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Merrills Grove Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Continue List (156 more) ...
- Oakfield Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Ebenezer Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Folck Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Elk Horn had a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, Elk Horn had a population of 601 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Elk Horn, with the one closest to Elk Horn listed first.
- Kimballton
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Brayton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Exira
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Hamlin
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Hamlin is located in Audubon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamlin
- Walnut
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Walnut is located in Pottawattamie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut
- Population from the 2020 Census: 768 people
- Marne
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Lorah
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Lorah is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lorah
- Fiscus
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Fiscus is located in Audubon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fiscus
- Audubon
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Atlantic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Corley
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Corley is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corley
- Ross
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Ross is located in Audubon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ross
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Kirkman
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Kirkman is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kirkman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 61 people
- Harlan
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Irwin
(15 miles [24.1 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 Elk Horn. See our List of 1890's Communities around Elk Horn.
Newspapers Published in Elk Horn ...
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 79 newspapers that have been published in the area around Elk Horn.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Elk Horn, 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 Elk Horn.
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 professional and volunteer 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 Elk Horn:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Shelby County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Audubon County
- Carroll County
- Cass County
- Crawford County
- Guthrie County
- Harrison County
- Pottawattamie 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 Elk Horn, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Elk Horn) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |