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 Great Oaks (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 Great Oaks. 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.
Great Oaks is located in Scott 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 Scott County: Cedar, Clinton, Muscatine & Rock Island (IL).
Below are the counties that are near Great Oaks. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Great Oaks:
- Scott County (The home county of Great Oaks)
- The following are listed by their distance from Great Oaks, with the one closest to Great Oaks listed first.
- Pleasant Valley
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Le Claire
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Panorama Park
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Panorama Park is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panorama Park
- Population from the 2020 Census: 331 people
- Riverdale
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Riverdale is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverdale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 398 people
- Bettendorf
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Princeton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Davenport
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Eldridge
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Park View
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Park View is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Park View
- McCausland
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- McCausland is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCausland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 311 people
- Long Grove
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Noel ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Noel is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Noel
- Donahue
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Cedar County
- The following are listed by their distance from Great Oaks, with the one closest to Great Oaks listed first.
- Sunbury
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Sunbury is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunbury
- Bennett
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Bennett is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bennett
- Population from the 2020 Census: 373 people
- Clinton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Great Oaks, with the one closest to Great Oaks listed first.
- Folletts
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Folletts is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Folletts
- Shaffton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Shaffton is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shaffton
- Low Moor
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Camanche
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- De Witt
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Elvira
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Elvira is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elvira
- Grand Mound
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Clinton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Sixmile
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Sixmile is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sixmile
- Calamus
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Calamus is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calamus
- Population from the 2020 Census: 397 people
- North Welton
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- North Welton is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Welton
- Welton
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Welton is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Welton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 148 people
- Tenmile
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Tenmile is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tenmile
- Muscatine County
- The following are listed by their distance from Great Oaks, with the one closest to Great Oaks listed first.
- Stockton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Stockton is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stockton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 189 people
- Midway Beach
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Midway Beach is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway Beach
- Pleasant Prairie
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Pleasant Prairie is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Prairie
- Pine Mills ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Pine Mills is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Mills
- Fairport
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Fairport is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairport
- South Towne Park
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- South Towne Park is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Towne Park
- Wilton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Bureau County (IL)
- Yorktown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Yorktown is located in Bureau County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorktown
- Carroll County (IL)
- Thomson
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Henry County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Great Oaks, with the one closest to Great Oaks listed first.
- Green Rock
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Green Rock is located in Henry County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Rock
- Cleveland
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Cleveland is located in Henry County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cleveland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 178 people
- Dayton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Dayton is located in Henry County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
- Briar Bluff
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Briar Bluff is located in Henry County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Briar Bluff
- Colona
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Hickory Hills
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Hickory Hills is located in Henry County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Hills
- Morristown
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Morristown is located in Henry County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morristown
- Orion
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Geneseo
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Osco
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Lynn Center
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Andover
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Cambridge
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Mercer County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Great Oaks, with the one closest to Great Oaks listed first.
- Sherrard
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Preemption
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Griffin
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Griffin is located in Mercer County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffin
- Matherville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- New Windsor
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- New Windsor is located in Mercer County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Windsor
- Windsor
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Windsor is located in Mercer County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windsor
- Population from the 2020 Census: 760 people
- Marston
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Marston is located in Mercer County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marston
- Gilchrist
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Gilchrist is located in Mercer County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilchrist
- Viola
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Shale City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Shale City is located in Mercer County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shale City
- Rock Island County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Great Oaks, with the one closest to Great Oaks listed first.
- Hampton
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Hampton is located in Rock Island County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hampton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,738 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hampton <1>
- Port Byron
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Rapids City
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Carbon Cliff
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- East Moline
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- East Moline is located in Rock Island County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Moline
- Population from the 2020 Census: 20,473 people
- Silvis
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Silvis is located in Rock Island County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silvis
- Population from the 2020 Census: 7,473 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Silvis <1>
- Barstow
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Cordova
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Moline
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Moline is located in Rock Island County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moline
- Population from the 2020 Census: 41,065 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Moline <1>
- Joslin
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Joslin is located in Rock Island County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joslin
- Coal Valley
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Rustic Acres
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Rustic Acres is located in Rock Island County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rustic Acres
- Rock Island
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Whiteside County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Great Oaks, with the one closest to Great Oaks listed first.
- Albany
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Erie
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Erie is located in Whiteside County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erie
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,482 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Erie <1>
- Newton Corners
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Newton Corners is located in Whiteside County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newton Corners
- East Clinton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- East Clinton is located in Whiteside County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Clinton
- Pratt ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Pratt is located in Whiteside County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pratt
- Fenton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Fulton
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Fulton is located in Whiteside County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fulton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,285 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Fulton <1>
- Denrock
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Denrock is located in Whiteside County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denrock
- Prophetstown
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Union Grove
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Union Grove is located in Whiteside County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Grove
- Lyndon
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Morrison
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Spring Valley
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Spring Valley is located in Whiteside County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Valley
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Great Oaks, see our County-by-County Page for Great Oaks.
Cemeteries Near Great Oaks ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Great Oaks.
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 Great Oaks - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Great Oaks covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Great Oaks, with the one closest to Great Oaks listed first.
- Pleasant Valley Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Fairview Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- LeClaire Prairie Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Hampton Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Fenno Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Hampton Twp. Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Glendale Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Jacks Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- State Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Zion Lutheran Church Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Yost Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Old Rapids City Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Continue List (275 more) ...
- St. John's Catholic Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Oak Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Port Byron Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 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>
While we didn't find Great Oaks in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Great Oaks.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Great Oaks, with the one closest to Great Oaks listed first.
- Pleasant Valley
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Hampton
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Hampton is located in Rock Island County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hampton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,738 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hampton <1>
- Le Claire
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Rapids City
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Port Byron
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Carbon Cliff
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Barstow
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Princeton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Moline
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Moline is located in Rock Island County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moline
- Population from the 2020 Census: 41,065 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Moline <1>
- Cordova
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Mount Joy
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Mount Joy is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Joy
- Davenport
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Cleveland
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Cleveland is located in Henry County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cleveland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 178 people
- Briar Bluff
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Briar Bluff is located in Henry County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Briar Bluff
- Green River
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Green River is located in Henry County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green River
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Great Oaks. See our List of 1890's Communities around Great Oaks.
Newspapers Published in Great Oaks ...
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 166 newspapers that have been published in the area around Great Oaks.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Great Oaks, there are papers which were published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Great Oaks.
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 professional and volunteer 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 Great Oaks:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Scott County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cedar County
- Clinton County
- Muscatine County
- Bureau County
- Carroll County
- Henry County
- Mercer County
- Rock Island County
- Whiteside 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 Great Oaks, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Great Oaks) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |