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Our Genealogy Helper

Introduction ...

So far, we found very little information about Maclay. The little that we've found leads us believe that the community is historic.<1>

We've added Maclay to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Maclay, please Contact Us.

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 Maclay (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 Maclay. 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.

Although our information shows that the community of Maclay is historic, it would have been located within present day Clay 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 Clay County: Buena Vista, Cherokee, Dickinson, Emmet, O'Brien, Osceola, Palo Alto & Pocahontas.

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

  • Clay County     (The home county of Maclay)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Maclay, with the one closest to Maclay listed first.
    • Gillett Grove
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Gillett Grove is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gillett Grove
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 47 people
    • Webb
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Webb is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webb
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 126 people
    • Cornell
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Cornell is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornell
    • Greenville
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Rossie
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Rossie is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rossie
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 67 people
    • Dickens
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Dickens is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dickens
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 168 people
    • Spencer
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Royal
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Peterson
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Langdon
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Langdon is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langdon
    • Everly
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Everly is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Everly
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 541 people
    • Fostoria
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Fostoria is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fostoria
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 219 people
  • Buena Vista County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Maclay, with the one closest to Maclay listed first.
    • Sioux Rapids
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Marathon
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Marathon is located in Buena Vista County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marathon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 228 people
    • Linn Grove
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Rembrandt
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Albert City
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Truesdale
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Elkton
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Elkton is located in Buena Vista County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkton
    • Storm Lake
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Alta
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Alta is located in Buena Vista County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alta
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,916 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Alta <2>
    • Lakeside
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Lakeside is located in Buena Vista County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeside
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 690 people
    • Casino Beach
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Casino Beach is located in Buena Vista County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Casino Beach
    • Newell
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Newell is located in Buena Vista County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 859 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Newell <2>
  • Cherokee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Maclay, with the one closest to Maclay listed first.
    • Larrabee
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Larrabee is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Larrabee
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 130 people
    • Aurelia
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Cherokee
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Meriden
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Meriden is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meriden
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 144 people
  • Dickinson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Maclay, with the one closest to Maclay listed first.
    • Terril
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Terril is located in Dickinson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terril
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 338 people
    • Milford
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Old Town
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Old Town is located in Dickinson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Town
    • West Okoboji
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • West Okoboji is located in Dickinson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Okoboji
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 303 people
    • Arnolds Park
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Wahpeton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Wahpeton is located in Dickinson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wahpeton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 353 people
    • Okoboji
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
  • Emmet County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Maclay, with the one closest to Maclay listed first.
    • Wallingford
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Wallingford is located in Emmet County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wallingford
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 168 people
    • Hoprig
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Hoprig is located in Emmet County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoprig
  • O'Brien County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Maclay, with the one closest to Maclay listed first.
    • Moneta
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Moneta is located in O'Brien County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moneta
    • Sutherland
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Calumet
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Calumet is located in O'Brien County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calumet
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 155 people
    • Hartley
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Hartley is located in O'Brien County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,556 people
    • Primghar
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
  • Palo Alto County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Maclay, with the one closest to Maclay listed first.
    • Ayrshire
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Ruthven
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Curlew
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Curlew is located in Palo Alto County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curlew
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 55 people
    • Mallard
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Emmetsburg
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Graettinger
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Cylinder
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Cylinder is located in Palo Alto County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cylinder
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 84 people
    • Rodman
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Rodman is located in Palo Alto County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rodman
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 41 people
  • Pocahontas County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Maclay, with the one closest to Maclay listed first.
    • Laurens
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Havelock
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Plover
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Plover is located in Pocahontas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plover
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 69 people
    • Varina
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Varina is located in Pocahontas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Varina
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 64 people
    • Pocahontas
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Rolfe
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Rolfe is located in Pocahontas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rolfe
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 530 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Rolfe <2>
    • Fonda
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Fonda is located in Pocahontas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fonda
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 566 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Fonda <2>

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

Cemeteries Near Maclay ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Maclay.

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

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

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

  • Osborn Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Burr Oak Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Liberty Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Fanny Fern Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Rosehill Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • St. Josephs Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Garfield Twp. Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Lone Tree Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Logan Twp. Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Poland Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Prairie Creek Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Lincoln Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (114 more) ...
    • Zion Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Douglas Twp. Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Barnes Twp. Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)

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.

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

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

  • Greenville
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Sioux Rapids
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Marathon
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Marathon is located in Buena Vista County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marathon
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 228 people
  • Linn Grove
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Dickens
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Dickens is located in Clay County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dickens
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 168 people
  • Spencer
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
  • Peterson
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
  • Ayrshire
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
  • Laurens
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Curlew
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Curlew is located in Palo Alto County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curlew
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 55 people
  • Everly
    (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Everly is located in Clay County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Everly
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 541 people
  • Elkton
    (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Elkton is located in Buena Vista County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkton
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Mallard
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Havelock
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Sutherland
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)

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

Newspapers Published in Maclay ...

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 124 newspapers that have been published in the area around Maclay.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Maclay, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Maclay.

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 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 Maclay:

Footnotes ...

<1>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 Maclay, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<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>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or 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- Maclay) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.