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 Farrar (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 Farrar. 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 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.
Farrar 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 Farrar. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Farrar:
- Polk County (The home county of Farrar)
- The following are listed by their distance from Farrar, with the one closest to Farrar listed first.
- Loring
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Loring is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loring
- Santiago
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Santiago is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Santiago
- Elkhart
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Mitchellville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Bondurant
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Altoona
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Ankeny
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Alleman
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Alleman is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alleman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 447 people
- Berwick
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Berwick is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berwick
- Carney
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Carney is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carney
- Country Estate Village
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Marquisville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Marquisville is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marquisville
- Boone County
- The following are listed by their distance from Farrar, with the one closest to Farrar listed first.
- Madrid
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Luther
(25 miles [40.2 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
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Jordan is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jordan
- Dallas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Farrar, with the one closest to Farrar listed first.
- High Bridge
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- High Bridge is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High Bridge
- Granger
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Xenia
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Xenia is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Xenia
- Woodward
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Waukee
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Hardin County
- Garden City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Garden City is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden City
- Jasper County
- The following are listed by their distance from Farrar, with the one closest to Farrar listed first.
- Mingo
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Valeria
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Valeria is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valeria
- Population from the 2020 Census: 58 people
- Clyde
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Clyde is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clyde
- Green Castle
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Green Castle is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Castle
- Ira
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Ira is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ira
- Oswalt
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Oswalt is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oswalt
- Goddard
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Goddard is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goddard
- Baxter
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Colfax
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Metz
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Metz is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Metz
- Prairie City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Lambs Grove
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- 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 Farrar, with the one closest to Farrar listed first.
- Percy ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Percy is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Percy
- Swan
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Swan is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swan
- Population from the 2020 Census: 74 people
- Pleasantville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Cordova
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Cordova is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cordova
- Otley
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Marshall County
- The following are listed by their distance from Farrar, with the one closest to Farrar listed first.
- Rhodes
(12 miles [19.3 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
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Malta
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Malta is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Malta
- State Center
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- State Center Junction
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Luray
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Luray is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Luray
- Laurel
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Laurel is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel
- Population from the 2020 Census: 234 people
- Saint Anthony
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Saint Anthony is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Anthony
- Population from the 2020 Census: 101 people
- Clemons
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Clemons is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clemons
- Population from the 2020 Census: 141 people
- Haverhill
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- LaMoille
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- LaMoille is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for LaMoille
- Marietta
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Marietta is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marietta
- Story County
- The following are listed by their distance from Farrar, with the one closest to Farrar listed first.
- Maxwell
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Collins
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Collins is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collins
- Population from the 2020 Census: 472 people
- Iowa Center
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Iowa Center is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iowa Center
- Cambridge
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Huxley
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Colo
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Shipley
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Shipley is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shipley
- Nevada
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Midvale
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Midvale is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midvale
- Slater
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Fernald
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Fernald is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fernald
- Kelley
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Warren County
- The following are listed by their distance from Farrar, with the one closest to Farrar listed first.
- Hartford
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Palmyra
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Palmyra is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmyra
- Lakewood
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Lakewood is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood
- Orillia
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Orillia is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orillia
- Cumming
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Ackworth
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Ackworth is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ackworth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 105 people
- Sandyville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Sandyville is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandyville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 54 people
- Spring Hill
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Spring Hill is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 65 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Farrar, see our County-by-County Page for Farrar.
Cemeteries Near Farrar ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Farrar.
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 Farrar - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Farrar covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Farrar, with the one closest to Farrar listed first.
- Farrar Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Holy Cross Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Church of the Brethren Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Graham Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Mt. Zion Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Ashton Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashton Cemetery
- The Ashton Cemetery has also been known as:
- Ashton Chapel Cemetery
- Ashton Church Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1984941 <2>
- Peoria Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Byers Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- 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>
- Brubaker Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Sams Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Maxwell Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Franklin Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Continue List (277 more) ...
- Greencastle Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Kintz Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Fisher 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.<3>
While we didn't find Farrar in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Farrar.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Farrar, with the one closest to Farrar listed first.
- Valeria
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Valeria is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valeria
- Population from the 2020 Census: 58 people
- Mingo
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Maxwell
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Santiago
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Santiago is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Santiago
- Green Castle
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Green Castle is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Castle
- Clyde
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Clyde is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clyde
- Collins
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Collins is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collins
- Population from the 2020 Census: 472 people
- Elkhart
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Iowa Center
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Iowa Center is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iowa Center
- Oswalt
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Oswalt is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oswalt
- Ira
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Ira is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ira
- Bondurant
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (18 more) ...
- Mitchellville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Cambridge
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Colfax
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Farrar. See our List of 1890's Communities around Farrar.
Newspapers Published in Farrar ...
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 226 newspapers that have been published in the area around Farrar.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Farrar, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Farrar.
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 Farrar:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Polk County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Boone County
- Dallas County
- Hardin 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> | 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 Farrar, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Farrar) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |