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 Lexington (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 Lexington. 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 doctors 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.
Lexington is located in Van Buren 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 Van Buren County: Davis, Henry, Jefferson, Lee, Clark (MO) & Scotland (MO).
Below are the counties that are near Lexington. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Lexington:
- Van Buren County (The home county of Lexington)
- The following are listed by their distance from Lexington, with the one closest to Lexington listed first.
- Bonaparte
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Farmington
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Mount Zion
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Mount Zion is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Zion
- Mount Sterling
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Keosauqua
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Stockport
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Kilbourn
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Kilbourn is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kilbourn
- Winchester
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Winchester is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winchester
- Cantril
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Birmingham
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Birmingham is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birmingham
- Population from the 2020 Census: 423 people
- Douds
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Douds is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Douds
- Leando
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Leando is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leando
- Davis County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lexington, with the one closest to Lexington listed first.
- Chequest
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Chequest is located in Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chequest
- Pulaski
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Pulaski is located in Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pulaski
- Population from the 2020 Census: 291 people
- Stiles
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Stiles is located in Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stiles
- Floris
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Floris is located in Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Floris
- Population from the 2020 Census: 143 people
- Steuben
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Steuben is located in Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steuben
- Des Moines County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lexington, with the one closest to Lexington listed first.
- Danville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Danville is located in Des Moines County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 896 people
- Middletown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Middletown is located in Des Moines County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middletown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 335 people
- Henry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lexington, with the one closest to Lexington listed first.
- Hillsboro
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Hillsboro is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsboro
- Population from the 2020 Census: 173 people
- Salem
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Oakland Mills
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Oakland Mills is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland Mills
- Rome
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Rome is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rome
- Population from the 2020 Census: 117 people
- Westwood
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Westwood is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 107 people
- Lowell
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Lowell is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowell
- Mount Pleasant
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- New London
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lexington, with the one closest to Lexington listed first.
- Glasgow
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Glasgow is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glasgow
- Lockridge
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Libertyville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Libertyville is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Libertyville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 341 people
- Fairfield
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Perlee
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Perlee is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perlee
- Maharishi Vedic City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Maharishi Vedic City is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maharishi Vedic City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,288 people
- Batavia
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Pleasant Plain
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Pleasant Plain is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Plain
- Population from the 2020 Census: 98 people
- Lee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lexington, with the one closest to Lexington listed first.
- Big Mound
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Big Mound is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Mound
- Primrose
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Primrose is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Primrose
- Croton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Croton is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Croton
- Russellville ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Russellville is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russellville
- Russellville has also been known as:
- Doantown
- Mount Hamill
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Mount Hamill is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Hamill
- Former names for Mount Hamill:
- Courtwright
- Hamill
- White Lane ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- White Lane is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Lane
- Houghton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Houghton is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Houghton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 135 people
- Donnellson
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Franklin
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Franklin is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franklin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 132 people
- Pilot Grove
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Pilot Grove is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pilot Grove
- Saint Paul
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Saint Paul is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Paul
- Population from the 2020 Census: 123 people
- Charleston
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Charleston is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charleston
- Wapello County
- Eldon
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Hancock County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Lexington, with the one closest to Lexington listed first.
- Nauvoo
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Niota
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Powellton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Powellton is located in Hancock County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powellton
- Clark County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Lexington, with the one closest to Lexington listed first.
- Acasto
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Acasto is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acasto
- Anson
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Anson is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anson
- Athens
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Athens is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Athens
- Chambersburg
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Chambersburg is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chambersburg
- Peaksville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Peaksville is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peaksville
- Dumas
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Dumas is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dumas
- Revere
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Luray
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Luray is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Luray
- Population from the 2020 Census: 94 people
- Medill
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Medill is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Medill
- Kahoka
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Clark City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Clark City is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clark City
- Saint Francisville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Saint Francisville is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Francisville
- Knox County (MO)
- Rutledge
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Scotland County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Lexington, with the one closest to Lexington listed first.
- Granger
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Granger is located in Scotland County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granger
- Population from the 2020 Census: 34 people
- Arbela
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Memphis
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Gorin
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Gorin is located in Scotland County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gorin
- South Gorin
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- South Gorin is located in Scotland County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Gorin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 93 people
- Kilwinning
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Kilwinning is located in Scotland County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kilwinning
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Lexington, see our County-by-County Page for Lexington.
Cemeteries Near Lexington ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Lexington.
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 Lexington - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Lexington covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Lexington, with the one closest to Lexington listed first.
- New Lexington Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Bonaparte Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Thomson Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Neumann Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Reed's Creek Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Chapman Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Bentonsport Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Vernon Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Robb Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Bradford Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Preen Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Helwig Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Continue List (478 more) ...
- Steinmeyer Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Rhodes Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Cave Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 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>
While we didn't find Lexington in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Lexington.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Lexington, with the one closest to Lexington listed first.
- Bonaparte
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Bentonsport
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Vernon
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Vernon is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vernon
- Farmington
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Pierceville
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Pierceville is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pierceville
- Acasto
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Acasto is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acasto
- Big Mound
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Big Mound is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Mound
- Mount Sterling
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Anson
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Anson is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anson
- Mount Zion
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Mount Zion is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Zion
- Keosauqua
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Utica
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Utica is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Utica
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Croton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Croton is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Croton
- Primrose
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Primrose is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Primrose
- Pittsburg
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Pittsburg is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pittsburg
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Lexington. See our List of 1890's Communities around Lexington.
Newspapers Published in Lexington ...
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 64 newspapers that have been published in the area around Lexington.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Lexington, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Lexington.
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 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 Lexington:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Van Buren County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Davis County
- Des Moines County
- Henry County
- Jefferson County
- Lee County
- Wapello County
- Hancock County
- Clark County
- Knox County
- Scotland 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 Lexington, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | 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 from Point A (ie- Lexington) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |