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 Enterprise (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 Enterprise. 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 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 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.
Enterprise 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 Enterprise. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Enterprise:
- Polk County (The home county of Enterprise)
- The following are listed by their distance from Enterprise, with the one closest to Enterprise listed first.
- Ankeny
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Elkhart
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Berwick
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Berwick is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berwick
- Bondurant
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Carney
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Carney is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carney
- Altoona
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Marquisville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Marquisville is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marquisville
- Saylorville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Saylorville is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saylorville
- Alleman
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Alleman is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alleman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 447 people
- Country Estate Village
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Santiago
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Santiago is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Santiago
- Loring
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Loring is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loring
- Mitchellville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Boone County
- The following are listed by their distance from Enterprise, with the one closest to Enterprise listed first.
- Madrid
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Luther
(22 miles [35.4 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
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Jordan is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jordan
- Moingona
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Moingona is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moingona
- Boone
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Dallas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Enterprise, with the one closest to Enterprise listed first.
- Granger
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- High Bridge
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- High Bridge is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High Bridge
- Waukee
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Xenia
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Xenia is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Xenia
- Woodward
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Dallas Center
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Booneville
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Van Meter
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Minburn
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Minburn is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minburn
- Population from the 2020 Census: 357 people
- Adel
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Bouton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- DeSoto
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Panther
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Panther is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panther
- Jasper County
- The following are listed by their distance from Enterprise, with the one closest to Enterprise listed first.
- Valeria
(10 miles [16.1 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
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Oswalt
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Oswalt is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oswalt
- Green Castle
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Green Castle is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Castle
- Colfax
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Clyde
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Clyde is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clyde
- Goddard
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Goddard is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goddard
- Ira
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Ira is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ira
- Prairie City
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Vandalia
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Vandalia is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vandalia
- Baxter
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Metz
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Metz is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Metz
- Lambs Grove
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Lambs Grove is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lambs Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 165 people
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Enterprise, with the one closest to Enterprise listed first.
- Swan
(21 miles [33.8 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
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Percy is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Percy
- Pleasantville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Cordova
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Cordova is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cordova
- Marshall County
- The following are listed by their distance from Enterprise, with the one closest to Enterprise listed first.
- Rhodes
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Rhodes is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rhodes
- Population from the 2020 Census: 298 people
- Melbourne
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Malta
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Malta is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Malta
- State Center
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- State Center Junction
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Story County
- The following are listed by their distance from Enterprise, with the one closest to Enterprise listed first.
- Cambridge
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Huxley
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Maxwell
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Slater
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Midvale
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Midvale is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midvale
- Iowa Center
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Iowa Center is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iowa Center
- Collins
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Collins is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collins
- Population from the 2020 Census: 472 people
- Kelley
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Shipley
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Shipley is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shipley
- Ames
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Nevada
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Ontario
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Ontario is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ontario
- Colo
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Warren County
- The following are listed by their distance from Enterprise, with the one closest to Enterprise listed first.
- Lakewood
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Lakewood is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood
- Orillia
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Orillia is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orillia
- Hartford
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Palmyra
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Palmyra is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmyra
- Cumming
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Spring Hill
(22 miles [35.4 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
- Prole
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Prole is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prole
- Ackworth
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Ackworth is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ackworth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 105 people
- Indianola
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Churchville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Churchville is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Churchville
- Sandyville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Sandyville is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandyville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 54 people
- Martensdale
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Clarkson ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Clarkson is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarkson
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Enterprise, see our County-by-County Page for Enterprise.
Cemeteries Near Enterprise ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Enterprise.
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 Enterprise - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Enterprise covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Enterprise, with the one closest to Enterprise listed first.
- Enterprise Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Greenwood Friends Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Oralabor Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Brethren Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Bretheran Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Berwick Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Bondurant Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Byers Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Byers Cemetery
- The Byers Cemetery has also been known as:
- Cory Grove Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #94372 <2>
- Elkhart Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Ankeny Memorial Gardens
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Highland Memory Gardens
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Altoona Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (288 more) ...
- Keller Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Pinehill Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- New Altoona Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 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.<4>
While we didn't find Enterprise in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Enterprise.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Enterprise, with the one closest to Enterprise listed first.
- Oralabor
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Oralabor is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oralabor
- Ankeny
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Berwick
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Berwick is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berwick
- Bondurant
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Elkhart
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Saylor
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Saylor is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saylor
- Saylorville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Saylorville is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saylorville
- Altoona
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Crocker
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Crocker is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crocker
- Santiago
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Santiago is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Santiago
- Rising Sun
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Rising Sun is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rising Sun
- Mitchellville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Polk City Junction
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Polk City Junction is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Polk City Junction
- Des Moines
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Ivy
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Ivy is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ivy
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Enterprise. See our List of 1890's Communities around Enterprise.
Newspapers Published in Enterprise ...
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 307 newspapers that have been published in the area around Enterprise.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Enterprise, there are papers which were published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Enterprise.
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 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 Enterprise:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Polk County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Boone County
- Dallas County
- Jasper 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> | 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- Enterprise) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <4> | 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 Enterprise, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |