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 Ivy (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 Ivy. 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 doctors 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.
Ivy is located in Polk 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 Polk County: Boone, Dallas, Jasper, Madison, Marion, Story & Warren.
Below are the counties that are near Ivy. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Ivy:
- Polk County (The home county of Ivy)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ivy, with the one closest to Ivy listed first.
- Rising Sun
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Rising Sun is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rising Sun
- Altoona
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Adelphi
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Adelphi is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adelphi
- Mitchellville
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Pleasant Hill
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Bondurant
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Runnells
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Levey
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Levey is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Levey
- Santiago
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Santiago is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Santiago
- Carlisle
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Country Estate Village
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Berwick
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Berwick is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berwick
- Boone County
- Madrid
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Dallas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ivy, with the one closest to Ivy listed first.
- Granger
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Booneville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Waukee
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- High Bridge
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- High Bridge is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High Bridge
- Dallas Center
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Van Meter
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Xenia
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Xenia is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Xenia
- DeSoto
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Jasper County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ivy, with the one closest to Ivy listed first.
- Vandalia
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Vandalia is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vandalia
- Prairie City
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Oswalt
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Oswalt is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oswalt
- Colfax
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Valeria
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Valeria is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valeria
- Population from the 2020 Census: 58 people
- Green Castle
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Green Castle is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Castle
- Mingo
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Goddard
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Goddard is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goddard
- Metz
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Metz is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Metz
- Ira
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Ira is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ira
- Monroe
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Clyde
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Clyde is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clyde
- Madison County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ivy, with the one closest to Ivy listed first.
- Patterson
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Patterson is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 163 people
- Saint Charles
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ivy, with the one closest to Ivy listed first.
- Swan
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Swan is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swan
- Population from the 2020 Census: 74 people
- Percy ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Percy is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Percy
- Pleasantville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Cordova
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Cordova is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cordova
- Otley
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Knoxville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Bauer
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Bauer is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bauer
- Melcher - Dallas
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Melcher - Dallas is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melcher - Dallas
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,236 people
- Howell ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Howell is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howell
- Pella
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Newbern
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Newbern is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newbern
- Marshall County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ivy, with the one closest to Ivy listed first.
- Rhodes
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Rhodes is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rhodes
- Population from the 2020 Census: 298 people
- Melbourne
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Malta
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Malta is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Malta
- State Center Junction
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Story County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ivy, with the one closest to Ivy listed first.
- Maxwell
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Cambridge
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Collins
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Collins is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collins
- Population from the 2020 Census: 472 people
- Iowa Center
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Iowa Center is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iowa Center
- Huxley
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Slater
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Midvale
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Midvale is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midvale
- Shipley
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Shipley is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shipley
- Kelley
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Colo
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Nevada
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Warren County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ivy, with the one closest to Ivy listed first.
- Hartford
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Palmyra
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Palmyra is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmyra
- Sandyville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Sandyville is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandyville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 54 people
- Lakewood
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Lakewood is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood
- Ackworth
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Ackworth is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ackworth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 105 people
- Indianola
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Spring Hill
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Spring Hill is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 65 people
- Orillia
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Orillia is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orillia
- Clarkson ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Clarkson is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarkson
- Cumming
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Prole
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Prole is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prole
- Milo
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Ivy, see our County-by-County Page for Ivy.
Cemeteries Near Ivy ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Ivy.
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 Ivy - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Ivy covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Ivy, with the one closest to Ivy listed first.
- Canfield Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Stuart Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Powers - Warren Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Spry Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- New Altoona Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Rising Sun Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Altoona Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Harvey Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Oakwood Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Wicker Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Lowman Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Prairie Belle Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Continue List (308 more) ...
- Vandalia Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Mitchellville Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Sims Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
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 in 1895, Ivy had a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Ivy, with the one closest to Ivy listed first.
- Rising Sun
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Rising Sun is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rising Sun
- Hastie
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Hastie is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hastie
- Adelphi
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Adelphi is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adelphi
- Altoona
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Mitchellville
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Levey
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Levey is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Levey
- Bondurant
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Runnells
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- East Des Moines
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- East Des Moines is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Des Moines
- Avon
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Avon is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avon
- Carlisle
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Vandalia
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Vandalia is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vandalia
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Santiago
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Santiago is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Santiago
- Ford
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Ford is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ford
- Berwick
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Berwick is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berwick
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Ivy. See our List of 1890's Communities around Ivy.
Newspapers Published in Ivy ...
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 262 newspapers that have been published in the area around Ivy.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Ivy, there are papers which were published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Ivy.
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 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 Ivy:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Polk County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Boone County
- Dallas County
- Jasper County
- Madison County
- Marion County
- Marshall County
- Story County
- Warren 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 Ivy, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Ivy) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |