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 Magnolia (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 Magnolia. 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 hospitals and doctors 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.
Magnolia is located in Harrison 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 Harrison County: Crawford, Monona, Pottawattamie, Shelby, Burt (NE) & Washington (NE).
Below are the counties that are near Magnolia. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Magnolia:
- Harrison County (The home county of Magnolia)
- The following are listed by their distance from Magnolia, with the one closest to Magnolia listed first.
- Logan
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Mondamin
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Orson
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Orson is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orson
- Modale
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Woodbine
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Pisgah
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Missouri Valley
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Little Sioux
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- California Junction
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- California Junction is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for California Junction
- Dunlap
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Persia
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Persia is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Persia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 281 people
- Yorkshire
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Yorkshire is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorkshire
- Crawford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Magnolia, with the one closest to Magnolia listed first.
- Dow City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Bell
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Bell is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell
- Arion
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Arion is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arion
- Population from the 2020 Census: 107 people
- Kenwood
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Kenwood is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenwood
- Buck Grove
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Buck Grove is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buck Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 43 people
- Charter Oak
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Monona County
- The following are listed by their distance from Magnolia, with the one closest to Magnolia listed first.
- Moorhead
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Blencoe
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Blencoe is located in Monona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blencoe
- Population from the 2020 Census: 196 people
- Soldier
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Turin
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Onawa
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Castana
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Ute
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Pottawattamie County
- The following are listed by their distance from Magnolia, with the one closest to Magnolia listed first.
- Loveland
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Loveland is located in Pottawattamie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loveland
- Pigeon
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Pigeon is located in Pottawattamie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pigeon
- Honey Creek
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Honey Creek is located in Pottawattamie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Honey Creek
- Neola
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Crescent
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Minden
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Underwood
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Weston
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Weston is located in Pottawattamie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weston
- McClelland
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Carter Lake
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Chautauqua
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Chautauqua is located in Pottawattamie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chautauqua
- Council Bluffs
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Harlan Junction ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Harlan Junction is located in Pottawattamie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harlan Junction
- Shelby County
- The following are listed by their distance from Magnolia, with the one closest to Magnolia listed first.
- Portsmouth
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Panama
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Tennant
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Tennant is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tennant
- Population from the 2020 Census: 63 people
- Earling
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Earling is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Earling
- Population from the 2020 Census: 403 people
- Westphalia
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Westphalia is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westphalia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 117 people
- Shelby
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Harlan
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Corley
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Corley is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corley
- Defiance
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Defiance is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Defiance
- Population from the 2020 Census: 260 people
- Burt County (NE)
- The following are listed by their distance from Magnolia, with the one closest to Magnolia listed first.
- Tekamah
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Craig
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Bertha
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Bertha is located in Burt County (NE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bertha
- Decatur
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Dodge County (NE)
- The following are listed by their distance from Magnolia, with the one closest to Magnolia listed first.
- Telbasta
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Telbasta is located in Dodge County (NE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Telbasta
- Fontanelle
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Fontanelle is located in Dodge County (NE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fontanelle
- Douglas County (NE)
- The following are listed by their distance from Magnolia, with the one closest to Magnolia listed first.
- Briggs
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Briggs is located in Douglas County (NE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Briggs
- Home Park
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Home Park is located in Douglas County (NE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Home Park
- Bennington
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Irvington
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Irvington is located in Douglas County (NE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irvington
- Omaha
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Omaha is located in Douglas County (NE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omaha
- Population from the 2020 Census: 478,393 people
- Omaha has also been known as:
- Omaha City
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Omaha <1>
- Elk City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Elk City is located in Douglas County (NE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elk City
- Washington County (NE)
- The following are listed by their distance from Magnolia, with the one closest to Magnolia listed first.
- Blair
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Blair is located in Washington County (NE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blair
- Population from the 2020 Census: 7,948 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Blair <1>
- De Soto ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- De Soto is located in Washington County (NE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Soto
- De Soto has also been known as:
- DeSoto
- Herman
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Fort Calhoun
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Kennard
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Washington
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Admah ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Admah is located in Washington County (NE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Admah
- Arlington
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Magnolia, see our County-by-County Page for Magnolia.
Cemeteries Near Magnolia ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Magnolia.
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 Magnolia - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Magnolia covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Magnolia, with the one closest to Magnolia listed first.
- Magnolia Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Calhoun Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Silver Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Purcell Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Logan Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Biglers Grove Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Greenwood Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- McGavern Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Greenwood Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Hodges Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Yutsler Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Mt. Carmel Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Continue List (158 more) ...
- Old Frazier Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Rose Hill Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Soldier Valley Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
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 Magnolia had a population of 197 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, Magnolia had a population of 170 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Magnolia, with the one closest to Magnolia listed first.
- Logan
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Mondamin
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Modale
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Missouri Valley
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Woodbine
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- California Junction
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- California Junction is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for California Junction
- Little Sioux
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- River Sioux
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- River Sioux is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for River Sioux
- Loveland
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Loveland is located in Pottawattamie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loveland
- Beebeetown
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Beebeetown is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beebeetown
- Union Burg ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Union Burg is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Burg
- Blair
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Blair is located in Washington County (NE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blair
- Population from the 2020 Census: 7,948 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Blair <1>
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- De Soto ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- De Soto is located in Washington County (NE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Soto
- De Soto has also been known as:
- DeSoto
- Pigeon
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Pigeon is located in Pottawattamie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pigeon
- Moorhead
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Magnolia. See our List of 1890's Communities around Magnolia.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Magnolia ...
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 324 newspapers that have been published in the area around Magnolia.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Magnolia. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Magnolia and those printed in the larger area surrounding Magnolia.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3> of Magnolia.
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 helpful 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 Magnolia:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Harrison County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Crawford County
- Monona County
- Pottawattamie County
- Shelby County
- Burt County
- Dodge County
- Douglas County
- Washington 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> | 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' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Magnolia) 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 Magnolia, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |