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 Marengo (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 Marengo. 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.
Name Variations for Marengo ...
When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.
In past government published Postal Guides, Marengo was referred to as Marengo Courthouse.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Marengo. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Marengo.
If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.
For more information about how community names might have been affected by the Board of Geographic Names (BGN), see our page about Placename Rules.
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 and hospitals 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.
Marengo is located in Iowa County and is the County Seat.
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 Iowa County: Benton, Johnson, Keokuk, Linn, Poweshiek, Tama & Washington.
Below are the counties that are near Marengo. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Marengo:
- Iowa County (The home county of Marengo)
- The following are listed by their distance from Marengo, with the one closest to Marengo listed first.
- South Amana
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- West Amana
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- West Amana is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Amana
- Conroy
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Conroy is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conroy
- Ladora
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Dayton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Dayton is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
- Middle Amana
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Williamsburg
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Amana
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Parnell
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Millersburg
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Millersburg is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millersburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 139 people
- North English
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Ambrose
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Ambrose is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ambrose
- Benton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Marengo, with the one closest to Marengo listed first.
- Blairstown
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Watkins
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Watkins is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watkins
- Luzerne
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Luzerne is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Luzerne
- Population from the 2020 Census: 92 people
- Norway
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Belle Plaine
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Newhall
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Van Horne
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Van Horne is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Van Horne
- Population from the 2020 Census: 646 people
- Irving
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Irving is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irving
- Keystone
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Atkins
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Shellsburg
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Garrison
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Garrison is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garrison
- Population from the 2020 Census: 355 people
- Benton City ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Benton City is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton City
- Johnson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Marengo, with the one closest to Marengo listed first.
- Oxford
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Swisher
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Cou Falls
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Cou Falls is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cou Falls
- Cosgrove
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Cosgrove is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cosgrove
- Windham
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Windham is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windham
- Shueyville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Shueyville is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shueyville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 655 people
- Tiffin
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- North Liberty
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Amish
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Amish is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amish
- Frytown
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Frytown is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frytown
- Williamstown
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Williamstown is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamstown
- Oakdale
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Oakdale is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakdale
- Coralville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Keokuk County
- The following are listed by their distance from Marengo, with the one closest to Marengo listed first.
- Aurora
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Aurora is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aurora
- Kinross
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Kinross is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kinross
- Population from the 2020 Census: 71 people
- South English
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- South English is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South English
- Population from the 2020 Census: 211 people
- Keswick
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Webster
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Webster is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
- Population from the 2020 Census: 71 people
- Gibson
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Gibson is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 59 people
- Thornburg
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Thornburg is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thornburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 67 people
- Harper
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Harper is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harper
- Population from the 2020 Census: 107 people
- Coal Creek
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Coal Creek is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coal Creek
- Keota
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Linn County
- The following are listed by their distance from Marengo, with the one closest to Marengo listed first.
- Walford
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Walford is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walford
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,436 people
- Fairfax
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Grand View Village
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Grand View Village is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grand View Village
- Cedar Hills
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Cedar Hills is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Hills
- Covington
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Covington is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Covington
- Western
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Western is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Western
- Lincolnway Village
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Lincolnway Village is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lincolnway Village
- Palo
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Cedar Rapids
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Ely
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Hiawatha
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Louisa
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Louisa is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Louisa
- Sunset Village
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Sunset Village is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunset Village
- Mahaska County
- Barnes City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Poweshiek County
- The following are listed by their distance from Marengo, with the one closest to Marengo listed first.
- Victor
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Hartwick
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Hartwick is located in Poweshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartwick
- Population from the 2020 Census: 81 people
- Guernsey
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Brooklyn
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Deep River
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Deep River is located in Poweshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deep River
- Population from the 2020 Census: 268 people
- Tilton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Tilton is located in Poweshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tilton
- Malcom
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Montezuma
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Sheridan
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Sheridan is located in Poweshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheridan
- Tama County
- The following are listed by their distance from Marengo, with the one closest to Marengo listed first.
- Chelsea
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Elberon
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Vining
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Vining is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vining
- Population from the 2020 Census: 49 people
- Long Point
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Long Point is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Point
- Gladstone
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Gladstone is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gladstone
- Clutier
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Dysart
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Tama
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Toledo
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Marengo, with the one closest to Marengo listed first.
- Nira
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Nira is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nira
- Wellman
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Kalona
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Marengo, see our County-by-County Page for Marengo.
Cemeteries Near Marengo ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Marengo.
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 Marengo - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Marengo covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Marengo, with the one closest to Marengo listed first.
- IOOF Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Calvary Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Titler Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Bishop Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Maple Tree Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Kitchen Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Norwegian Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Nelson Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Maas Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Mitchel Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Conn Pioneer Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Kumer Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Continue List (308 more) ...
- West Amana Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Athey Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Athey Cemetery
- The Athey Cemetery has also been known as:
- Cono Cemetery
- Sayers Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #96306 <2>
- Ladora Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 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.<3>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Marengo had a population of 1,710 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Marengo had a population of 2,466 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Marengo, with the one closest to Marengo listed first.
- Conroy
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Conroy is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conroy
- South Amana
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Ladora
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Watkins
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Watkins is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watkins
- Blairstown
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Koszta
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Koszta is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Koszta
- Williamsburg
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Luzerne
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Luzerne is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Luzerne
- Population from the 2020 Census: 92 people
- Homestead
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Amana
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Norway
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Victor
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Belle Plaine
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Walford
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Walford is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walford
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,436 people
- Newhall
(14 miles [22.5 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 Marengo. See our List of 1890's Communities around Marengo.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Marengo ...
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 140 newspapers that have been published in the area around Marengo.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Marengo. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Marengo and those printed in the larger area surrounding Marengo.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4> of Marengo.
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 Marengo:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Iowa County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Benton County
- Johnson County
- Keokuk County
- Linn County
- Mahaska County
- Poweshiek County
- Tama 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> | 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 Marengo, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | 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- Marengo) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |