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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 Holstein (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 Holstein. 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 doctors and 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.

Holstein is located in Ida 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 Ida County: Buena Vista, Cherokee, Crawford, Monona, Sac & Woodbury.

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

  • Ida County     (The home county of Holstein)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Holstein, with the one closest to Holstein listed first.
    • Galva
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Ida Grove
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Battle Creek
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Arthur
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Arthur is located in Ida County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arthur
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 194 people
  • Buena Vista County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Holstein, with the one closest to Holstein listed first.
    • Alta
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Alta is located in Buena Vista County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alta
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,916 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Alta <1>
    • Casino Beach
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Casino Beach is located in Buena Vista County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Casino Beach
    • Juniata
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Juniata is located in Buena Vista County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Juniata
    • Lakeside
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Lakeside is located in Buena Vista County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeside
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 690 people
    • Storm Lake
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Elkton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Elkton is located in Buena Vista County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkton
    • Truesdale
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Newell
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Newell is located in Buena Vista County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 859 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Newell <1>
    • Rembrandt
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Cherokee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Holstein, with the one closest to Holstein listed first.
    • Washta
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Washta is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Washta
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 222 people
    • Quimby
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Quimby is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quimby
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 291 people
    • Aurelia
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Fielding
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Fielding is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fielding
    • Cherokee
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Mary Hill
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Mary Hill is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mary Hill
    • Meriden
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Meriden is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meriden
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 144 people
    • Cleghorn
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Cleghorn is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cleghorn
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 214 people
    • Larrabee
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Larrabee is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Larrabee
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 130 people
    • Marcus
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Crawford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Holstein, with the one closest to Holstein listed first.
    • Kiron
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Schleswig
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Ricketts
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Ricketts is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ricketts
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 135 people
    • Boyer
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Boyer is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyer
    • Charter Oak
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Deloit
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Deloit is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deloit
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 254 people
  • Monona County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Holstein, with the one closest to Holstein listed first.
    • Mapleton
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Rodney
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Rodney is located in Monona County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rodney
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 57 people
  • Plymouth County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Holstein, with the one closest to Holstein listed first.
    • Kingsley
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • O'Leary
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • O'Leary is located in Plymouth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for O'Leary
  • Sac County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Holstein, with the one closest to Holstein listed first.
    • Schaller
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Odebolt
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Odebolt is located in Sac County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Odebolt
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 933 people
    • Early
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Nemaha
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Nemaha is located in Sac County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nemaha
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 80 people
    • Herring ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Herring is located in Sac County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herring
    • Lake View
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Wall Lake
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Wall Lake is located in Sac County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wall Lake
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 753 people
    • Sac City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Sac City Junction ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Sac City Junction is located in Sac County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sac City Junction
  • Woodbury County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Holstein, with the one closest to Holstein listed first.
    • Cushing
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
      • Cushing is located in Woodbury County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cushing
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 215 people
    • Correctionville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Pierson
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Pierson is located in Woodbury County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pierson
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 349 people
    • Anthon
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Danbury
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Oto
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Oto is located in Woodbury County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oto
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 101 people
    • Smithland
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Moville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Climbing Hill
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Climbing Hill is located in Woodbury County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Climbing Hill

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

Cemeteries Near Holstein ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Holstein.

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

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

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

  • OLGC Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Holstein Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Galva Twp. Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Galva Twp. Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Norwegian Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Battle Twp. Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Galva City Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Galva Lutheran Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Fairview Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Cushing Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Silver Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Sacred Heart Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (120 more) ...
    • Moorehead Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Rock Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Ida Grove Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 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 Holstein had a population of 539 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Holstein had a population of 1,367 people.

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

  • Cushing
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Cushing is located in Woodbury County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cushing
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 215 people
  • Galva
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Ida Grove
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
  • Washta
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Washta is located in Cherokee County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Washta
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 222 people
  • Quimby
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Quimby is located in Cherokee County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quimby
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 291 people
  • Hanover
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Hanover is located in Buena Vista County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanover
  • Midway
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Midway is located in Woodbury County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
  • Battle Creek
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
  • Schaller
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
  • Correctionville
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
  • Arthur
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Arthur is located in Ida County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arthur
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 194 people
  • Aurelia
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Pierson
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Pierson is located in Woodbury County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pierson
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 349 people
    • Anthon
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Alta
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Alta is located in Buena Vista County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alta
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,916 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Alta <1>

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Holstein ...

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 103 newspapers that have been published in the area around Holstein.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Holstein. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Holstein and those printed in the larger area surrounding Holstein.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<3> of Holstein.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Holstein:

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