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 Fertile (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 Fertile. 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 and hospitals 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.
Fertile is located in Worth 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 Worth County: Cerro Gordo, Mitchell, Winnebago, Freeborn (MN) & Mower (MN).
Below are the counties that are near Fertile. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Fertile:
- Worth County (The home county of Fertile)
- The following are listed by their distance from Fertile, with the one closest to Fertile listed first.
- Hanlontown
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Hanlontown is located in Worth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanlontown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
- Joice
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Joice is located in Worth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joice
- Population from the 2020 Census: 209 people
- Bristol
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Bristol is located in Worth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bristol
- Manly
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Kensett
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Kensett is located in Worth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kensett
- Population from the 2020 Census: 249 people
- Silver Lake
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Silver Lake is located in Worth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Lake
- Northwood
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Bolan
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Bolan is located in Worth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolan
- Grafton
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Cerro Gordo County
- The following are listed by their distance from Fertile, with the one closest to Fertile listed first.
- Creamery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Creamery is located in Cerro Gordo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creamery
- Clear Lake
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Ventura
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Mason City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Plymouth Junction
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Plymouth Junction is located in Cerro Gordo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plymouth Junction
- Plymouth
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Plymouth is located in Cerro Gordo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plymouth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 361 people
- Burchinal
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Burchinal is located in Cerro Gordo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burchinal
- Mason City Junction
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Mason City Junction is located in Cerro Gordo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mason City Junction
- Rock Falls
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Rock Falls is located in Cerro Gordo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Falls
- Population from the 2020 Census: 146 people
- Cameron
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Cameron is located in Cerro Gordo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cameron
- Portland
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Portland is located in Cerro Gordo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Portland
- Swaledale
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Swaledale is located in Cerro Gordo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swaledale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 157 people
- Thornton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Thornton is located in Cerro Gordo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thornton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 401 people
- Floyd County
- The following are listed by their distance from Fertile, with the one closest to Fertile listed first.
- Nora Springs
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Rudd
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Rockford
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Franklin County
- Sheffield
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Sheffield is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheffield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,096 people
- Hancock County
- The following are listed by their distance from Fertile, with the one closest to Fertile listed first.
- Garner
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Duncan
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Duncan is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duncan
- Crystal Lake
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Crystal Lake is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crystal Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 228 people
- Klemme
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Britt
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Woden
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Goodell
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Goodell is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 126 people
- Hutchins
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Hutchins is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hutchins
- Kanawha
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Kossuth County
- German Valley
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- German Valley is located in Kossuth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for German Valley
- Mitchell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Fertile, with the one closest to Fertile listed first.
- Carpenter
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Carpenter is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carpenter
- Population from the 2020 Census: 108 people
- Rock Creek
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Rock Creek is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Creek
- Saint Ansgar
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Mitchell
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Mitchell is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mitchell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 128 people
- Toeterville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Osage
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Winnebago County
- The following are listed by their distance from Fertile, with the one closest to Fertile listed first.
- Forest City
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Leland
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Leland is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 268 people
- Lake Mills
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Scarville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Vinje
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Vinje is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vinje
- Thompson
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Buffalo Center
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Rake
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Rake is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 206 people
- Wright County
- The following are listed by their distance from Fertile, with the one closest to Fertile listed first.
- Belmond
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Olaf
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Olaf is located in Wright County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olaf
- Faribault County (MN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Fertile, with the one closest to Fertile listed first.
- Kiester
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Walters
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Walters is located in Faribault County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walters
- Population from the 2020 Census: 67 people
- Bricelyn
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Bricelyn is located in Faribault County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bricelyn
- Population from the 2020 Census: 334 people
- Freeborn County (MN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Fertile, with the one closest to Fertile listed first.
- Emmons
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Emmons is located in Freeborn County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emmons
- Population from the 2020 Census: 380 people
- Twin Lakes
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Twin Lakes is located in Freeborn County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin Lakes
- Population from the 2020 Census: 149 people
- Glenville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Conger
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Conger is located in Freeborn County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conger
- Population from the 2020 Census: 144 people
- Myrtle
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Myrtle is located in Freeborn County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myrtle
- Population from the 2020 Census: 46 people
- London
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- London is located in Freeborn County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for London
- Albert Lea
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Hayward
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Alden
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Mower County (MN)
- Lyle
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Fertile, see our County-by-County Page for Fertile.
Cemeteries Near Fertile ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Fertile.
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 Fertile - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Fertile covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Fertile, with the one closest to Fertile listed first.
- Brush Point Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Grant Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Chapel Hill Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Elim Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Lincoln Twp. Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Beaver Creek Lutheran Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Kingland Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Pilot Knob Lutheran Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Bethel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Concordia Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- South Bethel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Trebilcock Family Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Continue List (197 more) ...
- Ellington Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Grandview Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Union Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 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 Fertile had a population of 109 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, Fertile had a population of 356 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Fertile, with the one closest to Fertile listed first.
- Creamery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Creamery is located in Cerro Gordo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creamery
- Clear Lake
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Miller
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Miller is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Miller
- Bristol
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Bristol is located in Worth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bristol
- Forest City
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Manly
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Somber
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Somber is located in Worth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Somber
- Leland
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Leland is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 268 people
- Lake Mills
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Kensett
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Kensett is located in Worth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kensett
- Population from the 2020 Census: 249 people
- Mason City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Hayfield
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Hayfield is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hayfield
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Garner
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Plymouth Junction
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Plymouth Junction is located in Cerro Gordo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plymouth Junction
- Burchinal
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Burchinal is located in Cerro Gordo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burchinal
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Fertile. See our List of 1890's Communities around Fertile.
Newspapers Published in Fertile ...
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 130 newspapers that have been published in the area around Fertile.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Fertile, 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 Fertile.
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 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 Fertile:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Worth County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cerro Gordo County
- Floyd County
- Franklin County
- Hancock County
- Kossuth County
- Mitchell County
- Winnebago County
- Wright County
- Faribault County
- Freeborn County
- Mower 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 Fertile, 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- Fertile) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |