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 Midland (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 Midland. 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 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.
Midland is located in Lyon 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 Lyon County: Osceola, Sioux, Nobles (MN), Rock (MN), Lincoln (SD) & Minnehaha (SD).
Below are the counties that are near Midland. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Midland:
- Lyon County (The home county of Midland)
- The following are listed by their distance from Midland, with the one closest to Midland listed first.
- Rock Rapids
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Edna
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Edna is located in Lyon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edna
- George
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Little Rock
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Lester
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Lester is located in Lyon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lester
- Population from the 2020 Census: 303 people
- Alvord
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Doon
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Larchwood
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Inwood
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Klondike
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Klondike is located in Lyon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Klondike
- Beloit
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Beloit is located in Lyon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beloit
- O'Brien County
- The following are listed by their distance from Midland, with the one closest to Midland listed first.
- Sheldon
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Archer
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Sanborn
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Osceola County
- The following are listed by their distance from Midland, with the one closest to Midland listed first.
- Sibley
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Ashton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Cloverdale
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Cloverdale is located in Osceola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cloverdale
- Allendorf
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Allendorf is located in Osceola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allendorf
- Melvin
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Melvin is located in Osceola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melvin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 197 people
- Ocheyedan
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Ocheyedan is located in Osceola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ocheyedan
- Population from the 2020 Census: 463 people
- Sioux County
- The following are listed by their distance from Midland, with the one closest to Midland listed first.
- Matlock
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Hull
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Boyden
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Boyden is located in Sioux County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyden
- Population from the 2020 Census: 682 people
- Perkins
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Perkins is located in Sioux County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perkins
- Rock Valley
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Middleburg
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Middleburg is located in Sioux County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middleburg
- Sioux Center
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Westbrook Village
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Westbrook Village is located in Sioux County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westbrook Village
- Hospers
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Lebanon
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Lebanon is located in Sioux County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lebanon
- Nobles County (MN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Midland, with the one closest to Midland listed first.
- Ellsworth
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Adrian
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Ransom
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Ransom is located in Nobles County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ransom
- Rushmore
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Rushmore is located in Nobles County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rushmore
- Population from the 2020 Census: 334 people
- Bigelow
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Bigelow is located in Nobles County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bigelow
- Population from the 2020 Census: 226 people
- Lismore
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Lismore is located in Nobles County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lismore
- Population from the 2020 Census: 218 people
- Org
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Org is located in Nobles County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Org
- Reading
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Reading is located in Nobles County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reading
- Wilmont
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Leota
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Leota is located in Nobles County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leota
- Worthington
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Pipestone County (MN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Midland, with the one closest to Midland listed first.
- Edgerton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Trosky
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Jasper Sunrise Village
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Jasper Sunrise Village is located in Pipestone County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jasper Sunrise Village
- Jasper
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Jasper is located in Pipestone County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jasper
- Population from the 2020 Census: 603 people
- Rock County (MN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Midland, with the one closest to Midland listed first.
- Kanaranzi
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Ash Creek
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Ash Creek is located in Rock County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ash Creek
- Steen
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Steen is located in Rock County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steen
- Population from the 2020 Census: 164 people
- Magnolia
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Magnolia is located in Rock County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnolia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 208 people
- Luverne
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Hills
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Bruce
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Bruce is located in Rock County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bruce
- Beaver Creek
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Beaver Creek is located in Rock County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver Creek
- Population from the 2020 Census: 283 people
- Manley
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Manley is located in Rock County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manley
- Kenneth
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Kenneth is located in Rock County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenneth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 66 people
- Hardwick
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Lincoln County (SD)
- The following are listed by their distance from Midland, with the one closest to Midland listed first.
- Fairview
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Canton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Shindler
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Shindler is located in Lincoln County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shindler
- Population from the 2010 Census: 584 people
- Hudson
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Harrisburg
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Minnehaha County (SD)
- The following are listed by their distance from Midland, with the one closest to Midland listed first.
- Valley Springs
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Rowena
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Garretson
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Brandon
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Sherman
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Sherman is located in Minnehaha County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 82 people
- Pine Lakes Addition
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Pine Lakes Addition is located in Minnehaha County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Lakes Addition
- Population from the 2010 Census: 314 people
- Split Rock Heights
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Split Rock Heights is located in Minnehaha County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Split Rock Heights
- Estimated population in 2014: 216 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Midland, see our County-by-County Page for Midland.
Cemeteries Near Midland ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Midland.
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 Midland - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Midland covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Midland, with the one closest to Midland listed first.
- Ebenezer Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- St. Mary's Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Grand Prairie Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Holy Name Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Riverside Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Zion Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Ash Wood Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Eastside Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Trinity Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- First Baptist Church Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Hope Reformed Church Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Evergreen Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (120 more) ...
- Apostolic Christian Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Grant Twp. Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Pleasant View Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
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>
While we didn't find Midland in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Midland.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Midland, with the one closest to Midland listed first.
- Rock Rapids
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Ellsworth
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Edna
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Edna is located in Lyon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edna
- Kanaranzi
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Ash Creek
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Ash Creek is located in Rock County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ash Creek
- Steen
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Steen is located in Rock County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steen
- Population from the 2020 Census: 164 people
- George
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Lester
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Lester is located in Lyon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lester
- Population from the 2020 Census: 303 people
- Little Rock
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Magnolia
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Magnolia is located in Rock County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnolia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 208 people
- Alvord
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Luverne
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Adrian
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Hills
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Doon
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Midland. See our List of 1890's Communities around Midland.
Newspapers Published in Midland ...
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 143 newspapers that have been published in the area around Midland.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Midland, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Midland.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we begin with 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 Midland:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Lyon County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- O'Brien County
- Osceola County
- Sioux County
- Nobles County
- Pipestone County
- Rock County
- Lincoln County
- Minnehaha 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 Midland, 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' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Midland) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |