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 Hartford (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 Hartford. 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.
Hartford is located in Warren 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 Warren County: Clarke, Dallas, Lucas, Madison, Marion & Polk.
Below are the counties that are near Hartford. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Hartford:
- Warren County (The home county of Hartford)
- The following are listed by their distance from Hartford, with the one closest to Hartford listed first.
- Palmyra
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Palmyra is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmyra
- Sandyville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Sandyville is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandyville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 54 people
- Ackworth
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Ackworth is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ackworth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 105 people
- Clarkson ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Clarkson is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarkson
- Indianola
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Milo
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Spring Hill
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Spring Hill is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 65 people
- Lakewood
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Lakewood is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood
- Orillia
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Orillia is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orillia
- Prole
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Prole is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prole
- Cool
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Cool is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cool
- Churchville
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Churchville is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Churchville
- Cumming
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Clarke County
- Liberty
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Liberty is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty
- Dallas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hartford, with the one closest to Hartford listed first.
- Booneville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Waukee
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Van Meter
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Granger
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Jasper County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hartford, with the one closest to Hartford listed first.
- Vandalia
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Vandalia is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vandalia
- Prairie City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Monroe
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Oswalt
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Oswalt is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oswalt
- Colfax
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Valeria
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Valeria is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valeria
- Population from the 2020 Census: 58 people
- Metz
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Metz is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Metz
- Goddard
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Goddard is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goddard
- Green Castle
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Green Castle is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Castle
- Reasnor
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Reasnor is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reasnor
- Population from the 2020 Census: 156 people
- Mingo
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Lambs Grove
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Lambs Grove is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lambs Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 165 people
- Galesburg
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Galesburg is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galesburg
- Lucas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hartford, with the one closest to Hartford listed first.
- Williamson
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Olmitz
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Olmitz is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olmitz
- Lucas
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Lucas is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucas
- Population from the 2020 Census: 207 people
- Chariton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Madison County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hartford, with the one closest to Hartford listed first.
- Saint Charles
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Patterson
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Patterson is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 163 people
- Truro
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hartford, with the one closest to Hartford listed first.
- Swan
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Swan is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swan
- Population from the 2020 Census: 74 people
- Percy ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Percy is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Percy
- Pleasantville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Cordova
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Cordova is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cordova
- Bauer
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Bauer is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bauer
- Knoxville
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Melcher - Dallas
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Melcher - Dallas is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melcher - Dallas
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,236 people
- Otley
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Newbern
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Newbern is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newbern
- Howell ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Howell is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howell
- Columbia
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Columbia is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbia
- Pershing
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Pershing is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pershing
- Attica
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Attica is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Attica
- Polk County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hartford, with the one closest to Hartford listed first.
- Runnells
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Adelphi
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Adelphi is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adelphi
- Carlisle
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Levey
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Levey is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Levey
- Pleasant Hill
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Rising Sun
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Rising Sun is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rising Sun
- Altoona
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Country Estate Village
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Mitchellville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Des Moines
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Norwalk
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Bondurant
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Berwick
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Berwick is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berwick
- Story County
- Maxwell
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Hartford, see our County-by-County Page for Hartford.
Cemeteries Near Hartford ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Hartford.
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 Hartford - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Hartford covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Hartford, with the one closest to Hartford listed first.
- Hartford Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Black Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Moore Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Palmyra Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Wicker Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Middle River Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Swan Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Murray Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Carlisle Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Sandyville Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Lowman Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Laverty Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (325 more) ...
- Wheeling Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Powers - Warren Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Ackworth Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
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 Hartford had a population of 277 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, Hartford had a population of 780 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Hartford, with the one closest to Hartford listed first.
- Palmyra
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Palmyra is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmyra
- Ford
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Ford is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ford
- Swan
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Swan is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swan
- Population from the 2020 Census: 74 people
- Runnells
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Adelphi
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Adelphi is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adelphi
- Carlisle
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Sandyville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Sandyville is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandyville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 54 people
- Morgin Valley ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Morgin Valley is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgin Valley
- Summerset
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Summerset is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summerset
- Ackworth
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Ackworth is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ackworth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 105 people
- Vandalia
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Vandalia is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vandalia
- Avon
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Avon is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avon
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Clarkson ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Clarkson is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarkson
- Pleasantville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Percy ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Percy is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Percy
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Hartford. See our List of 1890's Communities around Hartford.
Newspapers Published in Hartford ...
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 30 newspapers that have been published in the area around Hartford.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Hartford, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Hartford.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we start 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 Hartford:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Warren County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clarke County
- Dallas County
- Jasper County
- Lucas County
- Madison County
- Marion County
- Polk County
- Story 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 Hartford, 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 from Point A (ie- Hartford) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |