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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 Mitchellville (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 Mitchellville. 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 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 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.

Mitchellville is primarily located in Polk County. A portion of Mitchellville extends into Jasper 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 Polk County: Boone, Dallas, Jasper, Madison, Marion, Story & Warren.

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

  • Polk County     (The home county of Mitchellville)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mitchellville, with the one closest to Mitchellville listed first.
    • Santiago
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
      • Santiago is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Santiago
    • Bondurant
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Altoona
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Rising Sun
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Rising Sun is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rising Sun
    • Adelphi
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Adelphi is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adelphi
    • Pleasant Hill
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Berwick
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Berwick is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berwick
    • Runnells
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Country Estate Village
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Elkhart
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Levey
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Levey is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Levey
    • Carney
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Carney is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carney
  • Boone County
    • Madrid
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Dallas County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mitchellville, with the one closest to Mitchellville listed first.
    • Granger
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • High Bridge
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • High Bridge is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High Bridge
    • Waukee
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Booneville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Xenia
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Xenia is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Xenia
    • Dallas Center
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Jasper County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mitchellville, with the one closest to Mitchellville listed first.
    • Oswalt
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Oswalt is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oswalt
    • Valeria
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Valeria is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valeria
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 58 people
    • Colfax
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Green Castle
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Green Castle is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Castle
    • Mingo
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Prairie City
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Goddard
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Goddard is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goddard
    • Vandalia
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Vandalia is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vandalia
    • Metz
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Metz is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Metz
    • Ira
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Ira is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ira
    • Clyde
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Clyde is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clyde
    • Lambs Grove
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Lambs Grove is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lambs Grove
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 165 people
  • Marion County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mitchellville, with the one closest to Mitchellville listed first.
    • Swan
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Swan is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swan
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 74 people
    • Percy ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Percy is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Percy
    • Pleasantville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Cordova
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Cordova is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cordova
    • Otley
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Knoxville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Howell ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Howell is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howell
    • Pella
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Pella is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pella
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 10,266 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Pella <1>
  • Marshall County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mitchellville, with the one closest to Mitchellville listed first.
    • Rhodes
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Rhodes is located in Marshall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rhodes
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 298 people
    • Melbourne
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Malta
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Malta is located in Marshall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Malta
    • State Center Junction
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • State Center Junction is located in Marshall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for State Center Junction
    • State Center
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Laurel
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Laurel is located in Marshall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 234 people
    • Haverhill
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Luray
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Luray is located in Marshall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Luray
    • LaMoille
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • LaMoille is located in Marshall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for LaMoille
  • Story County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mitchellville, with the one closest to Mitchellville listed first.
    • Maxwell
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Collins
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Collins is located in Story County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collins
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 472 people
    • Iowa Center
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Iowa Center is located in Story County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iowa Center
    • Cambridge
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Huxley
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Slater
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Shipley
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Shipley is located in Story County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shipley
    • Midvale
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Midvale is located in Story County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midvale
    • Colo
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Nevada
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Kelley
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Fernald
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Fernald is located in Story County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fernald
  • Warren County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mitchellville, with the one closest to Mitchellville listed first.
    • Hartford
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Palmyra
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Palmyra is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmyra
    • Lakewood
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Lakewood is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood
    • Sandyville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Sandyville is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandyville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 54 people
    • Ackworth
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Ackworth is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ackworth
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 105 people
    • Orillia
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Orillia is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orillia
    • Clarkson ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Clarkson is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarkson
    • Indianola
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Spring Hill
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Spring Hill is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Hill
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 65 people
    • Cumming
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Prole
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Prole is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prole
    • Milo
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)

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

Cemeteries Near Mitchellville ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Mitchellville.

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

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

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

  • Mitchellville Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Franklin Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • New Altoona Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Altoona Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Canfield Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Prairie Belle Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Shipp Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Bondurant Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Colfax Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Highland Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • McKeever Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Sams Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (289 more) ...
    • Rising Sun Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Spry Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Westview Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)

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 Mitchellville had a population of 704 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Mitchellville had a population of 2,273 people.

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

  • Santiago
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Santiago is located in Polk County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Santiago
  • Oswalt
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Oswalt is located in Jasper County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oswalt
  • Valeria
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Valeria is located in Jasper County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valeria
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 58 people
  • Ivy
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Ivy is located in Polk County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ivy
  • Bondurant
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Altoona
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Colfax
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Green Castle
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Green Castle is located in Jasper County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Castle
  • Mingo
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Rising Sun
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Rising Sun is located in Polk County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rising Sun
  • Prairie City
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Hastie
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Hastie is located in Polk County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hastie
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Adelphi
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Adelphi is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adelphi
    • Vandalia
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Vandalia is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vandalia
    • Berwick
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Berwick is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berwick

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Mitchellville ...

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 305 newspapers that have been published in the area around Mitchellville.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Mitchellville. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Mitchellville and those printed in the larger area surrounding Mitchellville.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<4> of Mitchellville.

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 Mitchellville:

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 Mitchellville, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Mitchellville) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.