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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 Mapleton (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 Mapleton. 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 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.

Mapleton is located in Monona 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 Monona County: Crawford, Harrison, Woodbury, Burt (NE) & Thurston (NE).

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

  • Monona County     (The home county of Mapleton)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mapleton, with the one closest to Mapleton listed first.
    • Castana
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Rodney
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Rodney is located in Monona County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rodney
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 57 people
    • Ute
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Ute is located in Monona County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ute
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 337 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ute <1>
    • Soldier
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Turin
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Moorhead
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Onawa
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Whiting
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Blencoe
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Blencoe is located in Monona County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blencoe
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 196 people
    • Albaton
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Albaton is located in Monona County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albaton
  • Cherokee County
    • Washta
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Washta is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Washta
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 222 people
  • Crawford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mapleton, with the one closest to Mapleton listed first.
    • Ricketts
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Ricketts is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ricketts
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 135 people
    • Charter Oak
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Schleswig
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Kenwood
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Kenwood is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenwood
    • Bell
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Bell is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell
    • Arion
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Arion is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arion
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 107 people
    • Dow City
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Kiron
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Deloit
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Deloit is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deloit
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 254 people
    • Denison
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Sunset Village
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Sunset Village is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunset Village
    • Buck Grove
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Buck Grove is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buck Grove
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 43 people
  • Harrison County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mapleton, with the one closest to Mapleton listed first.
    • Dunlap
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Pisgah
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Little Sioux
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Orson
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Orson is located in Harrison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orson
    • Woodbine
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Ida County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mapleton, with the one closest to Mapleton listed first.
    • Battle Creek
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Ida Grove
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Arthur
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Arthur is located in Ida County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arthur
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 194 people
    • Holstein
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Galva
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Plymouth County
    • Kingsley
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Sac County
    • Odebolt
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Odebolt is located in Sac County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Odebolt
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 933 people
  • Woodbury County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mapleton, with the one closest to Mapleton listed first.
    • Danbury
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Smithland
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Oto
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Oto is located in Woodbury County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oto
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 101 people
    • Anthon
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Hornick
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Hornick is located in Woodbury County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hornick
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 210 people
    • Climbing Hill
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Climbing Hill is located in Woodbury County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Climbing Hill
    • Correctionville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Cushing
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Cushing is located in Woodbury County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cushing
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 215 people
    • Sloan
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Pierson
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Pierson is located in Woodbury County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pierson
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 349 people
    • Moville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Bronson
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Bronson is located in Woodbury County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bronson
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 318 people
  • Burt County (NE)
    • Decatur
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Thurston County (NE)
    • Macy
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)

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

Cemeteries Near Mapleton ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Mapleton.

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

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

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

  • St. Marys Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Mt. Hope Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Heisler Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Center Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Hartliben Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Danbury Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • St. Patricks Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • St. Marys Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Hollister Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Grant Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • St. Marys Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • St. Clairce Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (112 more) ...
    • Smithland Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Kennebec Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • St. Marys Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 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.<3>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Mapleton had a population of 782 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Mapleton had a population of 1,147 people.

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

  • Danbury
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Castana
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Smithland
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Rodney
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Rodney is located in Monona County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rodney
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 57 people
  • Ticonic
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Ticonic is located in Monona County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ticonic
  • Ute
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Ute is located in Monona County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ute
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 337 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ute <1>
  • Oto
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Oto is located in Woodbury County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oto
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 101 people
  • Soldier
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
  • Charter Oak
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Turin
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Battle Creek
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Midway
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Midway is located in Woodbury County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Anthon
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Lucky Valley ‑ Historic
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Lucky Valley is located in Woodbury County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucky Valley
    • Holly Springs
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Holly Springs is located in Woodbury County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holly Springs

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Mapleton ...

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 69 newspapers that have been published in the area around Mapleton.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Mapleton. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Mapleton and those printed in the larger area surrounding Mapleton.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4> of Mapleton.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we 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 Mapleton:

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>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 Mapleton, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Mapleton) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.