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 Essex (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 Essex. 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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.
Essex is located in Page 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 Page County: Fremont, Montgomery, Taylor, Atchison (MO) & Nodaway (MO).
Below are the counties that are near Essex. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Essex:
- Page County (The home county of Essex)
- The following are listed by their distance from Essex, with the one closest to Essex listed first.
- Shenandoah
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Nyman
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Nyman is located in Page County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nyman
- Tarkio City ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Tarkio City is located in Page County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tarkio City
- Yorktown
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Yorktown is located in Page County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorktown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 83 people
- Coin
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Coin is located in Page County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 175 people
- Hepburn
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Hepburn is located in Page County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hepburn
- Population from the 2020 Census: 17 people
- Northboro
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Northboro is located in Page County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northboro
- Population from the 2020 Census: 56 people
- Clarinda
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- College Springs
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- College Springs is located in Page County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for College Springs
- Population from the 2020 Census: 204 people
- Blanchard
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Blanchard is located in Page County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blanchard
- Population from the 2020 Census: 36 people
- Shambaugh
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Shambaugh is located in Page County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shambaugh
- Population from the 2020 Census: 181 people
- Hawleyville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Hawleyville is located in Page County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawleyville
- Braddyville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Adams County
- The following are listed by their distance from Essex, with the one closest to Essex listed first.
- Nodaway
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Nodaway is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nodaway
- Population from the 2020 Census: 102 people
- Iveyville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Iveyville is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iveyville
- Strand
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Strand is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strand
- Brooks
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Brooks is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brooks
- Carbon
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Carbon is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carbon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 31 people
- Lincoln Center
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Lincoln Center is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lincoln Center
- Quincy
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Quincy is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quincy
- Cass County
- Griswold
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Fremont County
- The following are listed by their distance from Essex, with the one closest to Essex listed first.
- Imogene
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Farragut
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Randolph
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Randolph is located in Fremont County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Randolph
- Population from the 2020 Census: 145 people
- Anderson
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Anderson is located in Fremont County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anderson
- Riverton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- High Creek
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- High Creek is located in Fremont County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High Creek
- Sidney
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Tabor
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Thurman
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Thurman is located in Fremont County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thurman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 210 people
- Hamburg
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Bartlett
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Bartlett is located in Fremont County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bartlett
- Payne
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Payne is located in Fremont County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Payne
- McPaul
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- McPaul is located in Fremont County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McPaul
- Mills County
- The following are listed by their distance from Essex, with the one closest to Essex listed first.
- Emerson
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Clark
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Clark is located in Mills County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clark
- Hastings
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Hastings is located in Mills County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hastings
- Population from the 2020 Census: 149 people
- Malvern
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Henderson
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Silver City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Silver City is located in Mills County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 246 people
- Glenwood
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Mills
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Mills is located in Mills County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mills
- Pacific Junction
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Mineola
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Pacific City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Pacific City is located in Mills County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pacific City
- Montgomery County
- The following are listed by their distance from Essex, with the one closest to Essex listed first.
- Coburg
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Coburg is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 39 people
- Red Oak
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Stanton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Clarinda Junction ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Clarinda Junction is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarinda Junction
- Villisca
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Tenville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Tenville is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tenville
- Sciola
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Sciola is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sciola
- Elliott
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Grant
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Grant is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grant
- Population from the 2020 Census: 84 people
- Pottawattamie County
- The following are listed by their distance from Essex, with the one closest to Essex listed first.
- Macedonia
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Carson
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Taylor County
- The following are listed by their distance from Essex, with the one closest to Essex listed first.
- New Market
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- New Market is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Market
- Population from the 2020 Census: 397 people
- Guss
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Guss is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Guss
- Siam
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Siam is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siam
- Ladoga
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Ladoga is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ladoga
- Gravity
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Gravity is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gravity
- Population from the 2020 Census: 181 people
- Atchison County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Essex, with the one closest to Essex listed first.
- Farmers City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Farmers City is located in Atchison County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farmers City
- Westboro
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Westboro is located in Atchison County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westboro
- Population from the 2020 Census: 126 people
- Tarkio
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Watson
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Watson is located in Atchison County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 89 people
- Nodaway County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Essex, with the one closest to Essex listed first.
- Elmo
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Elmo is located in Nodaway County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 148 people
- Clearmont
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Burlington Junction
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Cass County (NE)
- Rock Bluff
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Rock Bluff is located in Cass County (NE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Bluff
- Otoe County (NE)
- Nebraska City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Essex, see our County-by-County Page for Essex.
Cemeteries Near Essex ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Essex.
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 Essex - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Essex covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Essex, with the one closest to Essex listed first.
- Essex Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Hadden Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- St. John Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Franklin Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Rose Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rose Hill Cemetery
- The Rose Hill Cemetery has also been known as:
- Shenandoah Rose Hill Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #95985 <2>
- Mt. Hope Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Fremont Twp. Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Plum Thicket Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Mt. Calvary Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Baker Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- David Farm Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Monroe Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (219 more) ...
- Manti Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Salem Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Walnut Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 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 Essex had a population of 564 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Essex had a population of 737 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Essex, with the one closest to Essex listed first.
- Shenandoah
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Summit
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Summit is located in Fremont County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summit
- Bingham
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Bingham is located in Page County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bingham
- Norwich
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Norwich is located in Page County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwich
- Nyman
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Nyman is located in Page County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nyman
- Coburg
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Coburg is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 39 people
- Imogene
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Solomon
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Solomon is located in Mills County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Solomon
- Yorktown
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Yorktown is located in Page County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorktown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 83 people
- Hawthorne
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Hawthorne is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawthorne
- Farragut
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Coin
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Coin is located in Page County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 175 people
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Page Center
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Page Center is located in Page County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Page Center
- Emerson
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Red Oak
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Essex. See our List of 1890's Communities around Essex.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Essex ...
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 68 newspapers that have been published in the area around Essex.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Essex. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Essex and those printed in the larger area surrounding Essex.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4> of Essex.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to start 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 Essex:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Page County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Adams County
- Cass County
- Fremont County
- Mills County
- Montgomery County
- Pottawattamie County
- Taylor County
- Atchison County
- Nodaway County
- Cass County
- Otoe 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 Essex, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Essex) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |