Our Genealogy Helper
Introduction ...
So far, we found very little information about Forest City. The little that we've found leads us believe that the community is historic.<1>
We've added Forest City to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Forest City, please Contact Us.
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 Forest City (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 Forest City. 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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
Although our information shows that the community of Forest City is historic, it would have been located within present day Howard 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 Howard County: Chickasaw, Floyd, Mitchell, Winneshiek, Fillmore (MN) & Mower (MN).
Below are the counties that are near Forest City. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Forest City:
- Howard County (The home county of Forest City)
- The following are listed by their distance from Forest City, with the one closest to Forest City listed first.
- Lime Springs
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Florenceville
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Florenceville is located in Howard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florenceville
- Chester
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Davis Corners
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Davis Corners is located in Howard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis Corners
- Cresco
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Vernon Springs
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Vernon Springs is located in Howard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vernon Springs
- Riceville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Protivin
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Elma
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Chickasaw County
- The following are listed by their distance from Forest City, with the one closest to Forest City listed first.
- Jerico
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Jerico is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jerico
- Alta Vista
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Deerfield
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Deerfield is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deerfield
- North Washington
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- North Washington is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Washington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 137 people
- Lawler
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- New Hampton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Floyd County
- Colwell
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Mitchell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Forest City, with the one closest to Forest City listed first.
- McIntire
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- McIntire is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McIntire
- Population from the 2020 Census: 127 people
- Meyer
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Meyer is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meyer
- New Haven
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- New Haven is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Haven
- Little Cedar
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Little Cedar is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Cedar
- Stacyville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Stacyville is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stacyville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 466 people
- Winneshiek County
- The following are listed by their distance from Forest City, with the one closest to Forest City listed first.
- Kendallville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Kendallville is located in Winneshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kendallville
- Bluffton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Bluffton is located in Winneshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluffton
- Burr Oak
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Ridgeway
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Hesper
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Hesper is located in Winneshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hesper
- Spillville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Decorah
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Highlandville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Highlandville is located in Winneshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highlandville
- Jackson Junction
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Jackson Junction is located in Winneshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jackson Junction
- Population from the 2020 Census: 54 people
- Navan
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Navan is located in Winneshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Navan
- Calmar
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Fort Atkinson
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Fillmore County (MN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Forest City, with the one closest to Forest City listed first.
- York
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- York is located in Fillmore County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for York
- Granger
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Granger is located in Fillmore County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granger
- Etna
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Etna is located in Fillmore County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Etna
- Carimona
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Carimona is located in Fillmore County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carimona
- Harmony
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Ostrander
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Canton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Wykoff
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Preston
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Spring Valley
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Fillmore
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Fillmore is located in Fillmore County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fillmore
- Fountain
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Houston County (MN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Forest City, with the one closest to Forest City listed first.
- Riceford
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Riceford is located in Houston County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riceford
- Spring Grove
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Yucatan
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Yucatan is located in Houston County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yucatan
- Mower County (MN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Forest City, with the one closest to Forest City listed first.
- Le Roy
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Taopi
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Taopi is located in Mower County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taopi
- Population from the 2020 Census: 65 people
- Grand Meadow
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Racine
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Adams
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Elkton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Elkton is located in Mower County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 148 people
- Johnsburg
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Johnsburg is located in Mower County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnsburg
- Dexter
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Rose Creek
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Olmsted County (MN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Forest City, with the one closest to Forest City listed first.
- Stewartville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- High Forest
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- High Forest is located in Olmsted County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High Forest
- Winona County (MN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Forest City, with the one closest to Forest City listed first.
- Troy
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Troy is located in Winona County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Troy
- Saratoga
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Saratoga is located in Winona County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saratoga
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Forest City, see our County-by-County Page for Forest City.
Cemeteries Near Forest City ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Forest City.
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 Forest City - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Forest City covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Forest City, with the one closest to Forest City listed first.
- Foreston Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Pleasant Hill Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Canfield Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Cedar Hill Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Saetersdal Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Phillips Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Bristol Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Love Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Albion Twp. Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Albion Twp. Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Oak Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- St. Mathews Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Continue List (254 more) ...
- Bristol Center Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Old Greenleafton Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Greenleafton Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
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.
While we didn't find Forest City in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Forest City.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Forest City, with the one closest to Forest City listed first.
- Lime Springs
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- York
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- York is located in Fillmore County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for York
- Bonair
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Bonair is located in Howard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonair
- Florenceville
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Florenceville is located in Howard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florenceville
- Granger
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Granger is located in Fillmore County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granger
- Bristol
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Bristol is located in Fillmore County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bristol
- Greenleafton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Greenleafton is located in Fillmore County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenleafton
- Chester
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Cherry Grove
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Cherry Grove is located in Fillmore County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Grove
- Davis Corners
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Davis Corners is located in Howard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis Corners
- Cresco
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Etna
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Etna is located in Fillmore County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Etna
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Kendallville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Kendallville is located in Winneshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kendallville
- Forestville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Forestville is located in Fillmore County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forestville
- Saratoga
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Saratoga is located in Howard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saratoga
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Forest City. See our List of 1890's Communities around Forest City.
Newspapers Published in Forest City ...
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 101 newspapers that have been published in the area around Forest City.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Forest City, 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 Forest City.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we begin 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 Forest City:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Howard County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Chickasaw County
- Floyd County
- Mitchell County
- Winneshiek County
- Fillmore County
- Houston County
- Mower County
- Olmsted County
- Winona County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Iowa
Footnotes ...
| <1> | 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 Forest City, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <2> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <3> | 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. |
| <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 from Point A (ie- Forest City) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |