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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 Harlan (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 Harlan. 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.

Name Variations for Harlan ...

When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.

In past government published Postal Guides, Harlan was referred to as Harlan Courthouse.

You might be interested in other communities that are also named Harlan. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Harlan.

If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.

For more information about how community names might have been affected by the Board of Geographic Names (BGN), see our page about Placename Rules.

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.

Harlan is located in Shelby County and is the County Seat.

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 Shelby County: Audubon, Carroll, Cass, Crawford, Harrison & Pottawattamie.

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

  • Shelby County     (The home county of Harlan)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Harlan, with the one closest to Harlan listed first.
    • Westphalia
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
      • Westphalia is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westphalia
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 117 people
    • Corley
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Kirkman
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Kirkman is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kirkman
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 61 people
    • Tennant
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Earling
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Earling is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Earling
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 403 people
    • Panama
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Portsmouth
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Irwin
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Shelby
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Defiance
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Defiance is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Defiance
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 260 people
    • Elk Horn
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Botna
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Audubon County
  • Carroll County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Harlan, with the one closest to Harlan listed first.
    • Manning
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Templeton
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Halbur
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Halbur is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halbur
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 252 people
  • Cass County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Harlan, with the one closest to Harlan listed first.
    • Marne
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Atlantic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Sycamore Village
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Sycamore Village is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sycamore Village
    • Grove City ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Grove City is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grove City
    • Lewis
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Wiota
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Griswold
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Crawford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Harlan, with the one closest to Harlan listed first.
    • Astor
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Astor is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Astor
    • Manilla
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Buck Grove
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Buck Grove is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buck Grove
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 43 people
    • Aspinwall
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Dow City
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Arion
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Arion is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arion
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 107 people
    • Bell
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Bell is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell
    • Sunset Village
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Sunset Village is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunset Village
    • Denison
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Kenwood
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Vail
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Vail is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vail
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 413 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Vail <1>
    • Deloit
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Deloit is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deloit
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 254 people
  • Harrison County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Harlan, with the one closest to Harlan listed first.
    • Persia
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Persia is located in Harrison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Persia
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 281 people
    • Yorkshire
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Dunlap
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Woodbine
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Logan
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Magnolia
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Magnolia is located in Harrison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnolia
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 170 people
    • Missouri Valley
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
  • Pottawattamie County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Harlan, with the one closest to Harlan listed first.
    • Harlan Junction ‑ Historic
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Harlan Junction is located in Pottawattamie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harlan Junction
    • Avoca
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Avoca is located in Pottawattamie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avoca
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,537 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Avoca <1>
    • Walnut
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Walnut is located in Pottawattamie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 768 people
    • Minden
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Minden is located in Pottawattamie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minden
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 597 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Minden <1>
    • Hancock
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Hancock is located in Pottawattamie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hancock
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 196 people
    • Neola
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Oakland
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Underwood
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Pigeon
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • McClelland
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Carson
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Weston
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)

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

Cemeteries Near Harlan ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Harlan.

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

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

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

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 Harlan had a population of 1,765 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Harlan had a population of 4,795 people.

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

  • Corley
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Westphalia
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Westphalia is located in Shelby County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westphalia
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 117 people
  • Kirkman
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Kirkman is located in Shelby County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kirkman
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 61 people
  • Panama
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Portsmouth
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
  • Harlan Junction ‑ Historic
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Harlan Junction is located in Pottawattamie County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harlan Junction
  • Shelby
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Avoca
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Avoca is located in Pottawattamie County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avoca
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,537 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Avoca <1>
  • Irwin
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Walnut
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Walnut is located in Pottawattamie County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 768 people
  • Defiance
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Defiance is located in Shelby County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Defiance
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 260 people
  • Persia
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Persia is located in Harrison County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Persia
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 281 people
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Kimballton
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Fiscus
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Fiscus is located in Audubon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fiscus
    • Elk Horn
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Harlan ...

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 79 newspapers that have been published in the area around Harlan.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Harlan. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Harlan and those printed in the larger area surrounding Harlan.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4> of Harlan.

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 Harlan:

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 Harlan, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Harlan) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.