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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 Fairbank (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 Fairbank. 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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.

Fairbank is primarily located in Buchanan County. A portion of Fairbank extends into Fayette 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 Buchanan County: Benton, Black Hawk, Bremer, Clayton, Delaware & Fayette.

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

  • Buchanan County     (The home county of Fairbank)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fairbank, with the one closest to Fairbank listed first.
    • Hazleton
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Stanley
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Stanley is located in Buchanan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stanley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 120 people
    • Independence
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Aurora
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Aurora is located in Buchanan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aurora
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 162 people
    • Doris
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Doris is located in Buchanan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doris
    • Shady Grove
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Shady Grove is located in Buchanan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shady Grove
    • Winthrop
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Winthrop is located in Buchanan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winthrop
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 848 people
    • Lamont
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Rowley
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Brandon
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Brandon is located in Buchanan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brandon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 320 people
    • Quasqueton
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Hamerville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Hamerville is located in Buchanan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamerville
    • Monti
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Monti is located in Buchanan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monti
  • Benton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fairbank, with the one closest to Fairbank listed first.
    • Mount Auburn
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Mount Auburn is located in Benton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Auburn
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 144 people
    • Spencers Grove
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Spencers Grove is located in Benton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spencers Grove
    • Urbana
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
  • Black Hawk County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fairbank, with the one closest to Fairbank listed first.
    • Dunkerton
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Dunkerton is located in Black Hawk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunkerton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 851 people
    • Jesup
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Jesup is located in Black Hawk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jesup
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,711 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Jesup <1>
    • Dewar
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Dewar is located in Black Hawk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dewar
    • Edwards ‑ Historic
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Edwards is located in Black Hawk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edwards
    • Raymond
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Raymond is located in Black Hawk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raymond
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 788 people
    • Elk Run Heights
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Elk Run Heights is located in Black Hawk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elk Run Heights
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,135 people
    • Evansdale
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Jubilee
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Jubilee is located in Black Hawk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jubilee
    • Gilbertville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Gilbertville is located in Black Hawk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilbertville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 725 people
    • Waterloo
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Janesville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Cedar City
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Cedar City is located in Black Hawk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar City
    • Cedar Falls
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
  • Bremer County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fairbank, with the one closest to Fairbank listed first.
    • Klinger
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Klinger is located in Bremer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Klinger
    • Readlyn
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Knittel
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Knittel is located in Bremer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knittel
    • Sumner
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Denver
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Tripoli
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Bremer
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Bremer is located in Bremer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bremer
    • Seigel
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Seigel is located in Bremer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seigel
    • Frederika
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Frederika is located in Bremer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frederika
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 205 people
    • Waverly
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Horton
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Horton is located in Bremer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horton
    • Plainfield
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Butler County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fairbank, with the one closest to Fairbank listed first.
    • Shell Rock
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • New Hartford
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
  • Chickasaw County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fairbank, with the one closest to Fairbank listed first.
    • Fredericksburg
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Republic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Republic is located in Chickasaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Republic
    • Lawler
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Clayton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fairbank, with the one closest to Fairbank listed first.
    • Strawberry Point
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Volga
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Volga is located in Clayton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Volga
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 193 people
  • Delaware County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fairbank, with the one closest to Fairbank listed first.
    • Dundee
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Masonville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Masonville is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Masonville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 119 people
    • Forestville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Forestville is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forestville
  • Fayette County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fairbank, with the one closest to Fairbank listed first.
    • Oran
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Oran is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oran
    • Oelwein
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Westgate
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Westgate is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westgate
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 209 people
    • Maynard
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Randalia
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Randalia is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Randalia
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 60 people
    • Fayette
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Donnan
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Donnan is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Donnan
    • Arlington
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Arlington is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arlington
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 393 people
    • Maryville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Maryville is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maryville
    • Hawkeye
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Hawkeye is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawkeye
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 399 people
    • Alpha
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Alpha is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alpha
    • Wadena
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • West Union
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Grundy County
    • Fredsville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Fredsville is located in Grundy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fredsville
  • Linn County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fairbank, with the one closest to Fairbank listed first.
    • Walker
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Walker is located in Linn County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walker
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 782 people
    • Troy Mills
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Fairbank ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Fairbank.

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

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

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

  • Immaculate Conception Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Fairbank Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • North Amish Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Union Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Oran Twp. Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Oran Twp. Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Amish Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • St. Peter Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Lester Twp. Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • St. Michaels Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Woodlawn Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Fairview - Lester Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (253 more) ...
    • Littleton Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Hazleton Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Fontana Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)

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 Fairbank had a population of 448 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Fairbank had a population of 1,132 people.

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

  • Dunkerton
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Dunkerton is located in Black Hawk County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunkerton
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 851 people
  • Littleton
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Littleton is located in Buchanan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Littleton
  • Hazleton
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Oelwein
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Bryantsburg
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Bryantsburg is located in Buchanan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bryantsburg
  • Klinger
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Klinger is located in Bremer County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Klinger
  • Westgate
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Westgate is located in Fayette County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westgate
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 209 people
  • Wapsie
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Wapsie is located in Bremer County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wapsie
  • Canfield
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Canfield is located in Black Hawk County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canfield
  • Otterville
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Otterville is located in Buchanan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otterville
  • Edwards ‑ Historic
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Edwards is located in Black Hawk County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edwards
  • Dewar
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Dewar is located in Black Hawk County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dewar
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Jesup
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Jesup is located in Black Hawk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jesup
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,711 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Jesup <1>
    • Stanley
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Stanley is located in Buchanan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stanley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 120 people
    • Knittel
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Knittel is located in Bremer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knittel

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Fairbank ...

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 111 newspapers that have been published in the area around Fairbank.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Fairbank. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Fairbank and those printed in the larger area surrounding Fairbank.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4> of Fairbank.

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 helpful 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 Fairbank:

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 Fairbank, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a '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- Fairbank) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.