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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 Hanford (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 Hanford. 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 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.

Hanford is located in Cerro Gordo 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 Cerro Gordo County: Butler, Floyd, Franklin, Hancock, Mitchell, Winnebago, Worth & Wright.

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

  • Cerro Gordo County     (The home county of Hanford)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hanford, with the one closest to Hanford listed first.
    • Cameron
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
      • Cameron is located in Cerro Gordo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cameron
    • Portland
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
      • Portland is located in Cerro Gordo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Portland
    • Mason City Junction
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Mason City Junction is located in Cerro Gordo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mason City Junction
    • Mason City
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Rockwell
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Cartersville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Cartersville is located in Cerro Gordo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cartersville
    • Burchinal
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
      • Burchinal is located in Cerro Gordo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burchinal
    • Rock Falls
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Rock Falls is located in Cerro Gordo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Falls
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 146 people
    • Plymouth Junction
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Plymouth Junction is located in Cerro Gordo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plymouth Junction
    • Swaledale
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Swaledale is located in Cerro Gordo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swaledale
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 157 people
    • Plymouth
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Plymouth is located in Cerro Gordo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plymouth
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 361 people
    • Dougherty
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Dougherty is located in Cerro Gordo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dougherty
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 56 people
  • Butler County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hanford, with the one closest to Hanford listed first.
    • Aredale
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Greene
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Dumont
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Bristow
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Bristow is located in Butler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bristow
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 147 people
    • Allison
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Kesley
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Kesley is located in Butler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kesley
  • Floyd County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hanford, with the one closest to Hanford listed first.
    • Nora Springs
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Rockford
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Rudd
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Aureola
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Aureola is located in Floyd County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aureola
    • Marble Rock
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Roseville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Roseville is located in Floyd County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roseville
    • Oakwood
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Oakwood is located in Floyd County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood
    • Floyd
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Charles City
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Carrville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Carrville is located in Floyd County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carrville
    • Colwell
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
  • Franklin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hanford, with the one closest to Hanford listed first.
    • Sheffield
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Sheffield is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheffield
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,096 people
    • Chapin
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Chapin is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapin
    • Hansell
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Hampton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Latimer
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Alexander
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Alexander is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alexander
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 159 people
    • Coulter
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Coulter is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coulter
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 261 people
    • Geneva
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Reeve
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Reeve is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reeve
    • Bradford
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Bradford is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradford
  • Hancock County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hanford, with the one closest to Hanford listed first.
    • Garner
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Klemme
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Goodell
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Goodell is located in Hancock County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 126 people
    • Duncan
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Duncan is located in Hancock County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duncan
  • Mitchell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hanford, with the one closest to Hanford listed first.
    • Rock Creek
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Rock Creek is located in Mitchell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Creek
    • Mitchell
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Mitchell is located in Mitchell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mitchell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 128 people
    • Orchard
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Orchard is located in Mitchell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orchard
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 71 people
    • Osage
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Osage is located in Mitchell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osage
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,549 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Osage <1>
    • Saint Ansgar
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Carpenter
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Carpenter is located in Mitchell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carpenter
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 108 people
    • Toeterville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Little Cedar
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Little Cedar is located in Mitchell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Cedar
    • New Haven
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • New Haven is located in Mitchell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Haven
    • Stacyville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Stacyville is located in Mitchell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stacyville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 466 people
  • Winnebago County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hanford, with the one closest to Hanford listed first.
    • Forest City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Lake Mills
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Leland
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Leland is located in Winnebago County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leland
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 268 people
  • Worth County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hanford, with the one closest to Hanford listed first.
    • Manly
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Grafton
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Hanlontown
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Hanlontown is located in Worth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanlontown
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
    • Kensett
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Kensett is located in Worth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kensett
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 249 people
    • Fertile
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Bolan
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Bolan is located in Worth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolan
    • Northwood
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Joice
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Joice is located in Worth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joice
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 209 people
    • Bristol
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Bristol is located in Worth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bristol
    • Silver Lake
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Silver Lake is located in Worth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Lake
  • Wright County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hanford, with the one closest to Hanford listed first.
    • Belmond
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Rowan
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)

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

Cemeteries Near Hanford ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Hanford.

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

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

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

  • Owen's Grove Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • St. Josephs Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Elmwood Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • IOOF Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Linn Grove Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Sacred Heart Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Rock Grove Twp. Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Park Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Spring Grove Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Mt. Vernon Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
  • Rockford Riverside Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
  • Rock Falls Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (175 more) ...

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 Hanford in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Hanford.

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

  • Cameron
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Cameron is located in Cerro Gordo County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cameron
  • Portland
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Portland is located in Cerro Gordo County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Portland
  • Mason City Junction
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Mason City Junction is located in Cerro Gordo County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mason City Junction
  • Rockwell
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Mason City
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Burchinal
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Burchinal is located in Cerro Gordo County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burchinal
  • Nora Springs
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Rockford
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
  • Rock Falls
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Rock Falls is located in Cerro Gordo County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Falls
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 146 people
  • Swaledale
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Swaledale is located in Cerro Gordo County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swaledale
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 157 people
  • Plymouth Junction
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Plymouth Junction is located in Cerro Gordo County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plymouth Junction
  • Plymouth
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Plymouth is located in Cerro Gordo County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plymouth
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 361 people
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Sheffield
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Sheffield is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheffield
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,096 people
    • Rudd
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Clear Lake
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)

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

Newspapers Published in Hanford ...

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 87 newspapers that have been published in the area around Hanford.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Hanford, 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 Hanford.

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 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 Hanford:

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 Hanford, 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- Hanford) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.