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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 Linwood (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 Linwood. 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 and 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.

Linwood is located in Adair 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 Adair County: Adams, Audubon, Cass, Dallas, Guthrie, Madison & Union.

Below are the counties that are near Linwood. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Linwood:

  • Adair County     (The home county of Linwood)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Linwood, with the one closest to Linwood listed first.
    • Fontanelle
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Fontanelle is located in Adair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fontanelle
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 612 people
    • Greenfield
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Bridgewater
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Arbor Hill
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Arbor Hill is located in Adair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arbor Hill
    • Gilead
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Gilead is located in Adair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilead
    • Orient
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Stanzel
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Stanzel is located in Adair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stanzel
    • Hebron
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Hebron is located in Adair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hebron
    • Zion
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Zion is located in Adair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zion
  • Adams County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Linwood, with the one closest to Linwood listed first.
    • Williamson
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Williamson is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamson
    • Carl
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Carl is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carl
    • Mount Etna
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Mount Etna is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Etna
    • Lincoln Center
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Lincoln Center is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lincoln Center
    • Carbon
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Carbon is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carbon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 31 people
    • Prescott
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Quincy
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Quincy is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quincy
    • Strand
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Strand is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strand
    • Queen City ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Queen City is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Queen City
    • Corning
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
    • Stringtown
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Stringtown is located in Adams County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stringtown
  • Audubon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Linwood, with the one closest to Linwood listed first.
    • Brayton
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Exira
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Hamlin
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Hamlin is located in Audubon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamlin
    • Audubon
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Kimballton
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Ross
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Ross is located in Audubon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ross
  • Cass County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Linwood, with the one closest to Linwood listed first.
    • Anita
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Massena
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Norway Center
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Norway Center is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norway Center
    • Wiota
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Cumberland
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Cumberland is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cumberland
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 246 people
    • Dewey
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Dewey is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dewey
    • Grove City ‑ Historic
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Grove City is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grove City
    • Sycamore Village
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Sycamore Village is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sycamore Village
    • Atlantic
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Lyman
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Lyman is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lyman
    • Lewis
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Marne
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Griswold
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Dallas County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Linwood, with the one closest to Linwood listed first.
    • Dexter
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Linden
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Linden is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linden
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 214 people
    • Redfield
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Wiscotta
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Wiscotta is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wiscotta
  • Guthrie County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Linwood, with the one closest to Linwood listed first.
    • Adair
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Casey
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Menlo
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • North Branch
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • North Branch is located in Guthrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Branch
    • Stuart
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Glendon
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Glendon is located in Guthrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glendon
    • Guthrie Center
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Dale
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Dale is located in Guthrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dale
    • Panora
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Yale
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Yale is located in Guthrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yale
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 239 people
    • Bayard
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Bagley
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Bagley is located in Guthrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bagley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 285 people
  • Madison County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Linwood, with the one closest to Linwood listed first.
    • Webster
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Webster is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
    • Pitzer
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Pitzer is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pitzer
    • Earlham
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Macksburg
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Macksburg is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macksburg
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 122 people
  • Montgomery County
    • Grant
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Grant is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grant
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 84 people
  • Shelby County
    • Elk Horn
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Union County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Linwood, with the one closest to Linwood listed first.
    • Cromwell
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Cromwell is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cromwell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 105 people
    • Creston
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • East Creston
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • East Creston is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Creston

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Linwood, see our County-by-County Page for Linwood.

Cemeteries Near Linwood ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Linwood.

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 Linwood - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Linwood covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Linwood, with the one closest to Linwood listed first.

  • Eureka Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Canby Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Sunnyhill Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • St. Johns Catholic Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Prussia Center Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prussia Center Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Prussia Center Cemetery is located 5 miles [8 km]<3> to the northwest of Greenfield.
    • The Prussia Center Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Prussia Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #95902 <2>
  • Lutheran Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Evergreen Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Immanual Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Immanuel Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Sears Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Oakwood Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • St. Josephs Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (185 more) ...

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>

While we didn't find Linwood in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Linwood.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Linwood, with the one closest to Linwood listed first.

  • Canby
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Canby is located in Adair County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canby
  • Adair
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Casey
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Anita
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Fontanelle
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Fontanelle is located in Adair County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fontanelle
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 612 people
  • Greenfield
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Bridgewater
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
  • Massena
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Menlo
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Wiota
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
  • North Branch
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • North Branch is located in Guthrie County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Branch
  • Cumberland
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Cumberland is located in Cass County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cumberland
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 246 people
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Fisk
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Fisk is located in Adair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fisk
    • Arbor Hill
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Arbor Hill is located in Adair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arbor Hill
    • Stuart
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Linwood. See our List of 1890's Communities around Linwood.

Newspapers Published in Linwood ...

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 61 newspapers that have been published in the area around Linwood.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Linwood, 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 Linwood.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Linwood:

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>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- Linwood) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<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 Linwood, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.