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 Johnston (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 Johnston. 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 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.
Johnston 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 Johnston. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Johnston:
- Polk County (The home county of Johnston)
- The following are listed by their distance from Johnston, with the one closest to Johnston listed first.
- Herrold
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Herrold is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herrold
- Grimes
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Saylorville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Saylorville is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saylorville
- Urbandale
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Carney
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Carney is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carney
- Andrews
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Andrews is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Andrews
- Windsor Heights
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Marquisville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Marquisville is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marquisville
- Polk City
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Ankeny
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Clive
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Des Moines
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Berwick
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Berwick is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berwick
- Boone County
- The following are listed by their distance from Johnston, with the one closest to Johnston listed first.
- Madrid
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Luther
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Luther is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Luther
- Population from the 2020 Census: 133 people
- Jordan
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Jordan is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jordan
- Moingona
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Moingona is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moingona
- Boone
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Berkley
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Berkley is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berkley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 33 people
- Ogden
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Centerville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Centerville is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
- Dallas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Johnston, with the one closest to Johnston listed first.
- Granger
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Waukee
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- High Bridge
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- High Bridge is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High Bridge
- Dallas Center
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Booneville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Woodward
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Xenia
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Xenia is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Xenia
- Van Meter
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Adel
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Minburn
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Minburn is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minburn
- Population from the 2020 Census: 357 people
- DeSoto
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Bouton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Panther
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Panther is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panther
- Greene County
- Rippey
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Rippey is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rippey
- Population from the 2020 Census: 269 people
- Jasper County
- The following are listed by their distance from Johnston, with the one closest to Johnston listed first.
- Valeria
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Valeria is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valeria
- Population from the 2020 Census: 58 people
- Oswalt
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Oswalt is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oswalt
- Mingo
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Green Castle
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Green Castle is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Castle
- Vandalia
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Vandalia is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vandalia
- Colfax
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Prairie City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Clyde
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Clyde is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clyde
- Goddard
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Goddard is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goddard
- Ira
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Ira is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ira
- Metz
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Metz is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Metz
- Baxter
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Madison County
- The following are listed by their distance from Johnston, with the one closest to Johnston listed first.
- Patterson
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Patterson is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 163 people
- Earlham
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Saint Charles
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Winterset
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Johnston, with the one closest to Johnston listed first.
- Swan
(25 miles [40.2 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
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Percy is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Percy
- Pleasantville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Story County
- The following are listed by their distance from Johnston, with the one closest to Johnston listed first.
- Slater
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Huxley
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Midvale
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Midvale is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midvale
- Cambridge
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Kelley
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Maxwell
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Shipley
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Shipley is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shipley
- Ames
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Iowa Center
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Iowa Center is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iowa Center
- Ontario
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Ontario is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ontario
- Collins
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Collins is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collins
- Population from the 2020 Census: 472 people
- Nevada
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Gilbert
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Warren County
- The following are listed by their distance from Johnston, with the one closest to Johnston listed first.
- Orillia
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Orillia is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orillia
- Lakewood
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Lakewood is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood
- Cumming
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Churchville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Churchville is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Churchville
- Prole
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Prole is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prole
- Spring Hill
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Spring Hill is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 65 people
- Martensdale
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Bevington
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Hartford
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Palmyra
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Palmyra is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmyra
- Indianola
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Ackworth
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Ackworth is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ackworth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 105 people
- Saint Marys
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Saint Marys is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Marys
- Population from the 2020 Census: 127 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Johnston, see our County-by-County Page for Johnston.
Cemeteries Near Johnston ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Johnston.
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 Johnston - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Johnston covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Johnston, with the one closest to Johnston listed first.
- Ridgedale Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Kinsey Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Rittgers Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- McDivitt Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Valley View Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Chapel Hill Gardens Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Sunny Hill Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Pinehill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Union Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Glendale Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Lincoln Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Highland Memory Gardens
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Continue List (278 more) ...
- Beebe Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Davis Farm Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Hoff Cemetery
(5 miles [8 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>
While we didn't find Johnston in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Johnston.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Johnston, with the one closest to Johnston listed first.
- Grimes
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Saylorville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Saylorville is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saylorville
- Clive
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Campbell
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Campbell is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campbell
- Saylor
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Saylor is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saylor
- Oralabor
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Oralabor is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oralabor
- Ankeny
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Crocker
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Crocker is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crocker
- Ingersoll ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Ingersoll is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ingersoll
- Valley Junction
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Valley Junction is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley Junction
- Des Moines
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Granger
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (19 more) ...
- Ashawa
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Ashawa is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashawa
- Berwick
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Berwick is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berwick
- Polk City Junction
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Polk City Junction is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Polk City Junction
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Johnston. See our List of 1890's Communities around Johnston.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Johnston ...
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 299 newspapers that have been published in the area around Johnston.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Johnston. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Johnston and those printed in the larger area surrounding Johnston.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<4> of Johnston.
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 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 Johnston:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Polk County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Boone County
- Dallas County
- Greene County
- Jasper County
- Madison County
- Marion 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 Johnston, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Johnston) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |