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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 Gravity (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 Gravity. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.

Gravity is located in Taylor 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 Taylor County: Adams, Page, Ringgold, Nodaway (MO) & Worth (MO).

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

  • Taylor County     (The home county of Gravity)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gravity, with the one closest to Gravity listed first.
    • Ladoga
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Conway
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • Conway is located in Taylor County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conway
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 40 people
    • Sharpsburg
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Bedford
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Guss
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • New Market
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Siam
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Lenox
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Clearfield
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Athelstan
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Athelstan is located in Taylor County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Athelstan
    • Blockton
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Blockton is located in Taylor County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blockton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 184 people
  • Adair County
  • Adams County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gravity, with the one closest to Gravity listed first.
    • Iveyville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Mercer
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Brooks
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Nodaway
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Nodaway is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nodaway
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 102 people
    • Corning
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Queen City ‑ Historic
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Queen City is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Queen City
    • Stringtown
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Stringtown is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stringtown
    • Prescott
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Quincy
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Quincy is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quincy
    • Carbon
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Strand
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Mount Etna
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Mount Etna is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Etna
  • Cass County
  • Montgomery County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gravity, with the one closest to Gravity listed first.
    • Villisca
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Clarinda Junction ‑ Historic
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Clarinda Junction is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarinda Junction
    • Tenville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Sciola
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Stanton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Grant
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Grant is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grant
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 84 people
    • Coburg
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Coburg is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coburg
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 39 people
    • Red Oak
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Page County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gravity, with the one closest to Gravity listed first.
    • Hawleyville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Hawleyville is located in Page County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawleyville
    • Hepburn
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Hepburn is located in Page County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hepburn
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 17 people
    • Clarinda
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Shambaugh
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Braddyville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • College Springs
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • College Springs is located in Page County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for College Springs
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 204 people
    • Yorktown
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Yorktown is located in Page County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorktown
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 83 people
    • Tarkio City ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Tarkio City is located in Page County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tarkio City
    • Nyman
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Coin
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Blanchard
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Essex
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
  • Ringgold County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gravity, with the one closest to Gravity listed first.
    • Maloy
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Benton
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Benton is located in Ringgold County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 40 people
    • Diagonal
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Knowlton ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Redding
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Redding is located in Ringgold County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redding
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 77 people
    • Delphos
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Delphos is located in Ringgold County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delphos
      • Estimated population in 2019: 24 people
    • Mount Ayr
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Tingley
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
  • Union County
  • Nodaway County (MO)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gravity, with the one closest to Gravity listed first.
    • Hopkins
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Hopkins is located in Nodaway County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopkins
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 470 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hopkins <1>
    • Gaynor
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Pickering
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Pickering is located in Nodaway County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pickering
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 141 people
    • Orrsburg
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Parnell
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Parnell is located in Nodaway County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parnell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 168 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Parnell <1>
    • Clearmont
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Elmo
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Elmo is located in Nodaway County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmo
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 148 people
    • Burlington Junction
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Ravenwood
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Maryville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
  • Worth County (MO)

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

Cemeteries Near Gravity ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Gravity.

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

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

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

  • Washington Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Gravity Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Ladoga Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Taylor County Farm Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Holt Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Lexington Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Bedford Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Fairview Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Mohler Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Conway Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Dallas Center Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Graceland Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (217 more) ...
    • Blue Grove Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Ferrell - Ross Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Bower Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 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.<2>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Gravity had a population of 210 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Gravity had a population of 181 people.

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

  • Ladoga
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Bedford
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Conway
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Conway is located in Taylor County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conway
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 40 people
  • Sharpsburg
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • New Market
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Guss
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Holt
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Holt is located in Taylor County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holt
  • Iveyville
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
  • Hawleyville
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Hawleyville is located in Page County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawleyville
  • Siam
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Platteville
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Platteville is located in Taylor County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Platteville
  • Lenox
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Clearfield
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Brooks
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Hopkins
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Hopkins is located in Nodaway County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopkins
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 470 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hopkins <1>

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Gravity ...

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 43 newspapers that have been published in the area around Gravity.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Gravity. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Gravity and those printed in the larger area surrounding Gravity.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3> of Gravity.

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 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 Gravity:

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>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 Gravity, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Gravity) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.