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 Keystone (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 Keystone. 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.
Keystone is located in Benton 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 Benton County: Black Hawk, Buchanan, Iowa, Johnson, Linn, Poweshiek & Tama.
Below are the counties that are near Keystone. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Keystone:
- Benton County (The home county of Keystone)
- The following are listed by their distance from Keystone, with the one closest to Keystone listed first.
- Van Horne
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Van Horne is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Van Horne
- Population from the 2020 Census: 646 people
- Luzerne
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Luzerne is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Luzerne
- Population from the 2020 Census: 92 people
- Irving
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Irving is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irving
- Blairstown
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Belle Plaine
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Garrison
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Garrison is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garrison
- Population from the 2020 Census: 355 people
- Newhall
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Watkins
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Watkins is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watkins
- Vinton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Norway
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Atkins
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Benton City ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Benton City is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton City
- Black Hawk County
- The following are listed by their distance from Keystone, with the one closest to Keystone listed first.
- La Porte City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Eagle Center
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Eagle Center is located in Black Hawk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagle Center
- Blessing
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Blessing is located in Black Hawk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blessing
- Jubilee
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Jubilee is located in Black Hawk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jubilee
- Voorhies
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Voorhies is located in Black Hawk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Voorhies
- Gilbertville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Gilbertville is located in Black Hawk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilbertville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 725 people
- Buchanan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Keystone, with the one closest to Keystone listed first.
- Brandon
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Brandon is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brandon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 320 people
- Hamerville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Hamerville is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamerville
- Shady Grove
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Shady Grove is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shady Grove
- Grundy County
- Reinbeck
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Iowa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Keystone, with the one closest to Keystone listed first.
- Dayton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Dayton is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
- Marengo
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Ladora
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- West Amana
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- West Amana is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Amana
- South Amana
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Middle Amana
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Amana
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Conroy
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Conroy is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conroy
- Williamsburg
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Millersburg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Millersburg is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millersburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 139 people
- Parnell
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Johnson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Keystone, with the one closest to Keystone listed first.
- Swisher
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Oxford
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Shueyville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Shueyville is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shueyville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 655 people
- Cou Falls
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Cou Falls is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cou Falls
- Linn County
- The following are listed by their distance from Keystone, with the one closest to Keystone listed first.
- Walford
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Walford is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walford
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,436 people
- Palo
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Covington
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Covington is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Covington
- Fairfax
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Cedar Hills
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Cedar Hills is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Hills
- Grand View Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Grand View Village is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grand View Village
- Center Point
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Toddville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Hiawatha
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Cedar Rapids
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Lincolnway Village
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Lincolnway Village is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lincolnway Village
- Louisa
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Louisa is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Louisa
- Marshall County
- The following are listed by their distance from Keystone, with the one closest to Keystone listed first.
- Le Grand
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Dunbar
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Dunbar is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunbar
- Poweshiek County
- The following are listed by their distance from Keystone, with the one closest to Keystone listed first.
- Hartwick
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Hartwick is located in Poweshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartwick
- Population from the 2020 Census: 81 people
- Victor
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Brooklyn
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Sheridan
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Sheridan is located in Poweshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheridan
- Guernsey
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Malcom
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Deep River
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Deep River is located in Poweshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deep River
- Population from the 2020 Census: 268 people
- Tama County
- The following are listed by their distance from Keystone, with the one closest to Keystone listed first.
- Elberon
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Vining
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Vining is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vining
- Population from the 2020 Census: 49 people
- Clutier
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Chelsea
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Dysart
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Gladstone
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Gladstone is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gladstone
- Long Point
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Long Point is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Point
- Traer
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Tama
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Toledo
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Buckingham
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Buckingham is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckingham
- Dinsdale
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Dinsdale is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dinsdale
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Keystone, see our County-by-County Page for Keystone.
Cemeteries Near Keystone ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Keystone.
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 Keystone - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Keystone covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Keystone, with the one closest to Keystone listed first.
- Holy Cross Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Keystone Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Bender Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Calvary Catholic Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- LaRue Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Redman Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Irving Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Twogood Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Arbuthnot Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Wright Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Lutheran Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Old International Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Continue List (264 more) ...
- Bishop Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Dvorak Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- International Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
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 in 1895, Keystone had a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Keystone had a population of 615 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Keystone, with the one closest to Keystone listed first.
- Van Horne
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Van Horne is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Van Horne
- Population from the 2020 Census: 646 people
- Irving
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Irving is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irving
- Luzerne
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Luzerne is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Luzerne
- Population from the 2020 Census: 92 people
- Belle Plaine
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Blairstown
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Vining
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Vining is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vining
- Population from the 2020 Census: 49 people
- Garrison
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Garrison is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garrison
- Population from the 2020 Census: 355 people
- Chelsea
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Koszta
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Koszta is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Koszta
- Newhall
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Watkins
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Watkins is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watkins
- Dysart
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Vinton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Long Point
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Long Point is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Point
- Helena
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Helena is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helena
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Keystone. See our List of 1890's Communities around Keystone.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Keystone ...
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 90 newspapers that have been published in the area around Keystone.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Keystone. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Keystone and those printed in the larger area surrounding Keystone.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3> of Keystone.
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 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 Keystone:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Benton County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Black Hawk County
- Buchanan County
- Grundy County
- Iowa County
- Johnson County
- Linn County
- Marshall County
- Poweshiek County
- Tama 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 Keystone, 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- Keystone) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |