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 Lena (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 Lena. 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.
Lena is located in Webster 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 Webster County: Boone, Calhoun, Greene, Hamilton, Humboldt, Pocahontas & Wright.
Below are the counties that are near Lena. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Lena:
- Webster County (The home county of Lena)
- The following are listed by their distance from Lena, with the one closest to Lena listed first.
- Gowrie
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Lanyon
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Lanyon is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lanyon
- Harcourt
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Harcourt is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harcourt
- Population from the 2020 Census: 278 people
- Callender
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Callender is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Callender
- Population from the 2020 Census: 346 people
- Palm Grove
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Palm Grove is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palm Grove
- Slifer
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Slifer is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slifer
- Dayton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Burnside
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Burnside is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnside
- Moorland
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Lehigh
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Otho
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Kalo
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Kalo is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kalo
- Boone County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lena, with the one closest to Lena listed first.
- Boxholm
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Pilot Mound
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Pilot Mound is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pilot Mound
- Population from the 2020 Census: 170 people
- Beaver
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Beaver is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver
- Population from the 2020 Census: 50 people
- Fraser
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Fraser is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fraser
- Population from the 2020 Census: 103 people
- Ogden
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Centerville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Centerville is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
- Berkley
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Berkley is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berkley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 33 people
- Boone
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Moingona
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Moingona is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moingona
- Mackey
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Mackey is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mackey
- Jordan
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Jordan is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jordan
- Luther
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Luther is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Luther
- Population from the 2020 Census: 133 people
- Calhoun County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lena, with the one closest to Lena listed first.
- Farnhamville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Farnhamville is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farnhamville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 335 people
- Rinard
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Rinard is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rinard
- Population from the 2020 Census: 48 people
- Somers
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Somers is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Somers
- Population from the 2020 Census: 102 people
- Lohrville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Rands
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Rands is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rands
- Wightman
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Wightman is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wightman
- Knierim
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Knierim is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knierim
- Population from the 2020 Census: 57 people
- Rockwell City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Lake City
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Manson
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Sherwood
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Sherwood is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherwood
- Twin Lakes
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Twin Lakes is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin Lakes
- Carroll County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lena, with the one closest to Lena listed first.
- Lanesboro
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Lanesboro is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lanesboro
- Population from the 2020 Census: 108 people
- Ralston
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Ralston is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ralston
- Population from the 2020 Census: 72 people
- Glidden
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Lidderdale
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Lidderdale is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lidderdale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 167 people
- Carroll Community Estates
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Dallas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lena, with the one closest to Lena listed first.
- Dawson
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Dawson is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dawson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 127 people
- Perry
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Bouton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Greene County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lena, with the one closest to Lena listed first.
- Paton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Dana
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Dana is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dana
- Population from the 2020 Census: 67 people
- Churdan
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Churdan is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Churdan
- Population from the 2020 Census: 363 people
- Farlin
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Farlin is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farlin
- Grand Junction
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Jefferson
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Scranton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Cooper
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Cooper is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooper
- Rippey
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Rippey is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rippey
- Population from the 2020 Census: 269 people
- Guthrie County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lena, with the one closest to Lena listed first.
- Jamaica
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Bagley
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Bagley is located in Guthrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bagley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 285 people
- Herndon
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Herndon is located in Guthrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herndon
- Bayard
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Yale
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Yale is located in Guthrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 239 people
- Hamilton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lena, with the one closest to Lena listed first.
- Stratford
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Stanhope
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Stanhope is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stanhope
- Population from the 2020 Census: 394 people
- Webster City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Kamrar
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Humboldt County
- Pioneer
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Pioneer is located in Humboldt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pioneer
- Population from the 2020 Census: 22 people
- Sac County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lena, with the one closest to Lena listed first.
- Auburn
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Grant City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Grant City is located in Sac County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grant City
- Story County
- Zenorsville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Zenorsville is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zenorsville
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Lena, see our County-by-County Page for Lena.
Cemeteries Near Lena ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Lena.
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 Lena - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Lena covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Lena, with the one closest to Lena listed first.
- Lost Grove Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lost Grove Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Lost Grove Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located 3 miles [4.8 km]<2> to the southeast of Gowrie.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #95348 <3>
- Gowrie Twp. Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Dawson Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Paton Twp. Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Reading Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Our Saviour Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Swedish Lutheran Church Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Highland Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Renner Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Lawn Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Callender Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Danish Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (182 more) ...
- Union Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Dayton Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- St. Joseph Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 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.<4>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Lena had a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Lena, with the one closest to Lena listed first.
- Gowrie
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Paton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Harcourt
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Harcourt is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harcourt
- Population from the 2020 Census: 278 people
- Farnhamville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Farnhamville is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farnhamville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 335 people
- Dana
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Dana is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dana
- Population from the 2020 Census: 67 people
- Boxholm
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Callender
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Callender is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Callender
- Population from the 2020 Census: 346 people
- Churdan
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Churdan is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Churdan
- Population from the 2020 Census: 363 people
- Dayton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Farlin
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Farlin is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farlin
- Burnside
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Burnside is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnside
- Grand Junction
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Lohrville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Jefferson
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Beaver
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Beaver is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver
- Population from the 2020 Census: 50 people
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Lena. See our List of 1890's Communities around Lena.
Newspapers Published in Lena ...
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 136 newspapers that have been published in the area around Lena.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Lena, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Lena.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with 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 Lena:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Webster County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Boone County
- Calhoun County
- Carroll County
- Dallas County
- Greene County
- Guthrie County
- Hamilton County
- Humboldt County
- Sac County
- Story 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> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Lena) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <3> | 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. |
| <4> | 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 Lena, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |