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 Montezuma (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 Montezuma. 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 Montezuma ...
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, Montezuma was referred to as Montezuma Courthouse.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Montezuma. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Montezuma.
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 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.
Montezuma is located in Poweshiek 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 Poweshiek County: Benton, Iowa, Jasper, Keokuk, Mahaska, Marshall & Tama.
Below are the counties that are near Montezuma. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Montezuma:
- Poweshiek County (The home county of Montezuma)
- The following are listed by their distance from Montezuma, with the one closest to Montezuma listed first.
- Deep River
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Deep River is located in Poweshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deep River
- Population from the 2020 Census: 268 people
- Malcom
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Searsboro
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Searsboro is located in Poweshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Searsboro
- Population from the 2020 Census: 145 people
- Guernsey
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Tilton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Tilton is located in Poweshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tilton
- Brooklyn
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Victor
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Grinnell
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Hartwick
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Hartwick is located in Poweshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartwick
- Population from the 2020 Census: 81 people
- Sheridan
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Sheridan is located in Poweshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheridan
- Benton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Montezuma, with the one closest to Montezuma listed first.
- Belle Plaine
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Irving
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Irving is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irving
- Luzerne
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Luzerne is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Luzerne
- Population from the 2020 Census: 92 people
- Iowa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Montezuma, with the one closest to Montezuma listed first.
- Ambrose
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Ambrose is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ambrose
- Millersburg
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Millersburg is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millersburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 139 people
- Ladora
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- North English
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Dayton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Dayton is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
- Parnell
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Williamsburg
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Marengo
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Conroy
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Conroy is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conroy
- Jasper County
- The following are listed by their distance from Montezuma, with the one closest to Montezuma listed first.
- Lynnville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Sully
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Oakland Acres
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Oakland Acres is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland Acres
- Population from the 2020 Census: 161 people
- Killduff
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Killduff is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Killduff
- Newburg
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Newburg is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newburg
- Kellogg
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Galesburg
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Galesburg is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galesburg
- Reasnor
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Reasnor is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reasnor
- Population from the 2020 Census: 156 people
- Newton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Lambs Grove
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Lambs Grove is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lambs Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 165 people
- Monroe
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Keokuk County
- The following are listed by their distance from Montezuma, with the one closest to Montezuma listed first.
- Gibson
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Gibson is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 59 people
- Coal Creek
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Coal Creek is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coal Creek
- Thornburg
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Thornburg is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thornburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 67 people
- What Cheer
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Aurora
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Aurora is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aurora
- Keswick
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Delta
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Delta is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delta
- Population from the 2020 Census: 313 people
- Webster
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Webster is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
- Population from the 2020 Census: 71 people
- South English
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- South English is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South English
- Population from the 2020 Census: 211 people
- Sigourney
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Hayesville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Hayesville is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hayesville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 48 people
- Harper
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Harper is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harper
- Population from the 2020 Census: 107 people
- Kinross
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Kinross is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kinross
- Population from the 2020 Census: 71 people
- Mahaska County
- The following are listed by their distance from Montezuma, with the one closest to Montezuma listed first.
- Barnes City
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Union Mills
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Union Mills is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Mills
- New Sharon
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Taintor
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Taintor is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taintor
- Indianapolis
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Indianapolis is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indianapolis
- Lacey
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Lacey is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacey
- Peoria
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Peoria is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peoria
- Rose Hill
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Rose Hill is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rose Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 161 people
- Keomah Village
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Keomah Village is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keomah Village
- Population from the 2020 Census: 99 people
- Oskaloosa
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Evans
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Evans is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evans
- Fishville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Fishville is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fishville
- Leighton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Montezuma, with the one closest to Montezuma listed first.
- Pella
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Howell ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Howell is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howell
- Harvey
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Harvey is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harvey
- Population from the 2020 Census: 243 people
- Tracy
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Tracy is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tracy
- Otley
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Marshall County
- The following are listed by their distance from Montezuma, with the one closest to Montezuma listed first.
- Gilman
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Gilman is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 484 people
- Dunbar
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Dunbar is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunbar
- Laurel
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Laurel is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel
- Population from the 2020 Census: 234 people
- Ferguson
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Ferguson is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ferguson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 122 people
- Tama County
- The following are listed by their distance from Montezuma, with the one closest to Montezuma listed first.
- Chelsea
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Long Point
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Long Point is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Point
- Gladstone
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Gladstone is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gladstone
- Tama
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Toledo
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Montour
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Vining
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Vining is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vining
- Population from the 2020 Census: 49 people
- Wapello County
- The following are listed by their distance from Montezuma, with the one closest to Montezuma listed first.
- Eddyville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Kirkville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Kirkville is located in Wapello County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kirkville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 177 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Montezuma, see our County-by-County Page for Montezuma.
Cemeteries Near Montezuma ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Montezuma.
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 Montezuma - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Montezuma covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Montezuma, with the one closest to Montezuma listed first.
- Jackson Twp. Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Masonic and IOOF Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Bone Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- McCoy Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Beason Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Lisor Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- McDonald Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Little Mt. Baptist Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Forest Home Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Sheley Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Harper Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Lytle Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (322 more) ...
- Tilford Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Barnes City Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnes City Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Barnes City Cemetery is located outside and to the southwest of Barnes City.
- Light Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 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.<2>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Montezuma had a population of 1,062 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Montezuma had a population of 1,388 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Montezuma, with the one closest to Montezuma listed first.
- Barnes City
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Ewart
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Ewart is located in Poweshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ewart
- Deep River
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Deep River is located in Poweshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deep River
- Population from the 2020 Census: 268 people
- Malcom
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Union Mills
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Union Mills is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Mills
- Searsboro
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Searsboro is located in Poweshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Searsboro
- Population from the 2020 Census: 145 people
- New Sharon
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Tilton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Tilton is located in Poweshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tilton
- Guernsey
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Brooklyn
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Taintor
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Taintor is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taintor
- Coal Creek
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Coal Creek is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coal Creek
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Lacey
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Lacey is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacey
- Indianapolis
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Indianapolis is located in Mahaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indianapolis
- Thornburg
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Thornburg is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thornburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 67 people
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Montezuma. See our List of 1890's Communities around Montezuma.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Montezuma ...
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 134 newspapers that have been published in the area around Montezuma.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Montezuma. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Montezuma and those printed in the larger area surrounding Montezuma.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3> of Montezuma.
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 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 Montezuma:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Poweshiek County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Benton County
- Iowa County
- Jasper County
- Keokuk County
- Mahaska County
- Marion County
- Marshall County
- Tama County
- Wapello 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> | 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 Montezuma, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | 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- Montezuma) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |