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 Hastings (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 Hastings. 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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.
Hastings is located in Mills 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 Mills County: Fremont, Montgomery, Pottawattamie, Cass (NE) & Sarpy (NE).
Below are the counties that are near Hastings. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Hastings:
- Mills County (The home county of Hastings)
- The following are listed by their distance from Hastings, with the one closest to Hastings listed first.
- Emerson
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Malvern
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Clark
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Clark is located in Mills County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clark
- Henderson
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Silver City
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Silver City is located in Mills County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 246 people
- Mineola
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Glenwood
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Mills
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Mills is located in Mills County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mills
- Pacific City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Pacific City is located in Mills County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pacific City
- Pacific Junction
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Folsom
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Folsom is located in Mills County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Folsom
- Hentons ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Hentons is located in Mills County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hentons
- Cass County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hastings, with the one closest to Hastings listed first.
- Griswold
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Lewis
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Lyman
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Lyman is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lyman
- Fremont County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hastings, with the one closest to Hastings listed first.
- Imogene
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Randolph
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Randolph is located in Fremont County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Randolph
- Population from the 2020 Census: 145 people
- Tabor
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Anderson
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Anderson is located in Fremont County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anderson
- Bartlett
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Bartlett is located in Fremont County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bartlett
- Thurman
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Thurman is located in Fremont County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thurman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 210 people
- Sidney
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Farragut
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- McPaul
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- McPaul is located in Fremont County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McPaul
- Riverton
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Percival
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Payne
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Payne is located in Fremont County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Payne
- Montgomery County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hastings, with the one closest to Hastings listed first.
- Red Oak
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Coburg
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Coburg is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 39 people
- Elliott
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Stanton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Clarinda Junction ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Clarinda Junction is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarinda Junction
- Sciola
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Sciola is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sciola
- Tenville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Tenville is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tenville
- Grant
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Grant is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grant
- Population from the 2020 Census: 84 people
- Villisca
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Page County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hastings, with the one closest to Hastings listed first.
- Essex
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Shenandoah
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Nyman
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Nyman is located in Page County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nyman
- Tarkio City ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Tarkio City is located in Page County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tarkio City
- Yorktown
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Yorktown is located in Page County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorktown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 83 people
- Hepburn
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Hepburn is located in Page County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hepburn
- Population from the 2020 Census: 17 people
- Coin
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Coin is located in Page County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 175 people
- Northboro
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Northboro is located in Page County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northboro
- Population from the 2020 Census: 56 people
- Clarinda
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Pottawattamie County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hastings, with the one closest to Hastings listed first.
- Macedonia
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Carson
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Treynor
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Dumfries
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Dumfries is located in Pottawattamie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dumfries
- Oakland
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- McClelland
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Chautauqua
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Chautauqua is located in Pottawattamie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chautauqua
- Council Bluffs
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Weston
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Weston is located in Pottawattamie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weston
- Hancock
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Hancock is located in Pottawattamie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hancock
- Population from the 2020 Census: 196 people
- Underwood
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Carter Lake
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Cass County (NE)
- The following are listed by their distance from Hastings, with the one closest to Hastings listed first.
- Rock Bluff
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Rock Bluff is located in Cass County (NE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Bluff
- Plattsmouth
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Mynard
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Mynard is located in Cass County (NE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mynard
- Murray
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Union
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Cullom
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Cullom is located in Cass County (NE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cullom
- Nehawka
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Douglas County (NE)
- The following are listed by their distance from Hastings, with the one closest to Hastings listed first.
- Home Park
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Home Park is located in Douglas County (NE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Home Park
- Ralston
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Otoe County (NE)
- The following are listed by their distance from Hastings, with the one closest to Hastings listed first.
- Wyoming
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Wyoming is located in Otoe County (NE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyoming
- Nebraska City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Sarpy County (NE)
- The following are listed by their distance from Hastings, with the one closest to Hastings listed first.
- La Platte
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- La Platte is located in Sarpy County (NE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Platte
- Bellevue
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Avery
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Avery is located in Sarpy County (NE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avery
- Gilmore
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Gilmore is located in Sarpy County (NE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilmore
- Papillion
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- La Vista
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Richfield
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Hastings, see our County-by-County Page for Hastings.
Cemeteries Near Hastings ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Hastings.
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 Hastings - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Hastings covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Hastings, with the one closest to Hastings listed first.
- Hasting Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- North Grove Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Wearin Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- South Grove Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Parker Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Cotten Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Cottonwood Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Emerson Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Malvern Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Wesley Chapel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Saylers Farm Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- East Liberty Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (238 more) ...
- Lowens Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Hillsdale Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Walnut 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 Hastings had a population of 322 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Hastings had a population of 149 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Hastings, with the one closest to Hastings listed first.
- White Cloud
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- White Cloud is located in Mills County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Cloud
- Malvern
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Emerson
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Clark
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Clark is located in Mills County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clark
- Strahan
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Strahan is located in Mills County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strahan
- Solomon
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Solomon is located in Mills County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Solomon
- Hawthorne
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Hawthorne is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawthorne
- Henderson
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Silver City
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Silver City is located in Mills County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 246 people
- Hillsdale
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Hillsdale is located in Mills County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsdale
- Imogene
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Wales
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Wales is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wales
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Randolph
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Randolph is located in Fremont County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Randolph
- Population from the 2020 Census: 145 people
- Tabor
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Macedonia
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Hastings. See our List of 1890's Communities around Hastings.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Hastings ...
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 71 newspapers that have been published in the area around Hastings.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Hastings. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Hastings and those printed in the larger area surrounding Hastings.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3> of Hastings.
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 Hastings:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Mills County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cass County
- Fremont County
- Montgomery County
- Page County
- Pottawattamie County
- Cass County
- Douglas County
- Otoe County
- Sarpy 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> | 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 Hastings, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Hastings) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |