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 Montpelier (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 Montpelier. 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 hospitals and doctors 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.
Montpelier is located in Muscatine 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 Muscatine County: Cedar, Johnson, Louisa, Scott & Rock Island (IL).
Below are the counties that are near Montpelier. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Montpelier:
- Muscatine County (The home county of Montpelier)
- The following are listed by their distance from Montpelier, with the one closest to Montpelier listed first.
- Midway Beach
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Midway Beach is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway Beach
- Pine Mills ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Pine Mills is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Mills
- Pleasant Prairie
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Pleasant Prairie is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Prairie
- Fairport
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Fairport is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairport
- Stockton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Stockton is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stockton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 189 people
- Muscatine
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- South Towne Park
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- South Towne Park is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Towne Park
- Wilton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Moscow
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Moscow is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moscow
- Fruitland
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Fruitland is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fruitland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 966 people
- Atalissa
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- West Liberty
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Nichols
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Nichols is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nichols
- Population from the 2020 Census: 358 people
- Cedar County
- The following are listed by their distance from Montpelier, with the one closest to Montpelier listed first.
- Sunbury
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Sunbury is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunbury
- Lime City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Lime City is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lime City
- Former names for Lime City:
- Lime Kilns
- Munn
- Bennett
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Bennett is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bennett
- Population from the 2020 Census: 373 people
- Rochester
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Rochester is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rochester
- Springdale
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Springdale is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springdale
- Tipton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Lowden
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Centerdale
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Centerdale is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerdale
- Cedar Valley
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Cedar Valley is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Valley
- Downey
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Downey is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Downey
- Clinton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Montpelier, with the one closest to Montpelier listed first.
- Calamus
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Calamus is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calamus
- Population from the 2020 Census: 397 people
- Wheatland
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Wheatland is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheatland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 724 people
- Grand Mound
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- De Witt
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Toronto
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Toronto is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toronto
- Population from the 2020 Census: 119 people
- Folletts
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Folletts is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Folletts
- Louisa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Montpelier, with the one closest to Montpelier listed first.
- Grandview
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Grandview is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grandview
- Population from the 2020 Census: 519 people
- Letts
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Oakville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Wapello
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Wapello is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wapello
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,999 people
- Elrick Junction
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Elrick Junction is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elrick Junction
- Fredonia
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Fredonia is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fredonia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
- Scott County
- The following are listed by their distance from Montpelier, with the one closest to Montpelier listed first.
- Buffalo
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Blue Grass
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Walcott
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Durant
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Hickory Grove
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Hickory Grove is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Grove
- Maysville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Maysville is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maysville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 181 people
- Davenport
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Bettendorf
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Donahue
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Eldridge
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Riverdale
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Riverdale is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverdale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 398 people
- New Liberty
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- New Liberty is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Liberty
- Population from the 2020 Census: 143 people
- Dixon
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Dixon is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dixon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 249 people
- Henry County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Montpelier, with the one closest to Montpelier listed first.
- Briar Bluff
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Briar Bluff is located in Henry County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Briar Bluff
- Colona
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Green Rock
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Green Rock is located in Henry County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Rock
- Orion
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Cleveland
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Cleveland is located in Henry County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cleveland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 178 people
- Dayton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Dayton is located in Henry County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
- Lynn Center
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Morristown
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Morristown is located in Henry County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morristown
- Ophiem
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Ophiem is located in Henry County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ophiem
- Hickory Hills
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Hickory Hills is located in Henry County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Hills
- Osco
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Alpha
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Andover
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Mercer County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Montpelier, with the one closest to Montpelier listed first.
- Marston
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Marston is located in Mercer County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marston
- Eliza
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Eliza is located in Mercer County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eliza
- Petersville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Petersville is located in Mercer County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petersville
- Preemption
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Matherville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Mannon
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Mannon is located in Mercer County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mannon
- Aledo
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Joy
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Joy is located in Mercer County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 377 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Joy <1>
- Shale City
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Shale City is located in Mercer County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shale City
- Sherrard
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Gilchrist
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Gilchrist is located in Mercer County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilchrist
- Viola
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Griffin
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Griffin is located in Mercer County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffin
- Rock Island County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Montpelier, with the one closest to Montpelier listed first.
- Andalusia
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Edgington
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Edgington is located in Rock Island County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgington
- Illinois City
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Illinois City is located in Rock Island County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Illinois City
- Buffalo Prairie
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Taylor Ridge
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Reynolds
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Milan
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Milan is located in Rock Island County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milan
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,945 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Milan <1>
- Oak Grove
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Oak Grove is located in Rock Island County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 585 people
- Rock Island
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Coyne Center
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Coyne Center is located in Rock Island County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coyne Center
- Moline
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Moline is located in Rock Island County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moline
- Population from the 2020 Census: 41,065 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Moline <1>
- Coal Valley
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- East Moline
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- East Moline is located in Rock Island County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Moline
- Population from the 2020 Census: 20,473 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Montpelier, see our County-by-County Page for Montpelier.
Cemeteries Near Montpelier ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Montpelier.
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 Montpelier - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Montpelier covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Montpelier, with the one closest to Montpelier listed first.
- Montpelier Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Dodge Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Nye Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Zion Lutheran Church Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Andalusia Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Rose Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- St. Peter's Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Blue Grass Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Parr Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Fairport Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Illinois City Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Edgington Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Continue List (310 more) ...
- Kisenmacher Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Krell Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Asbury Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 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 in 1895, Montpelier had a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Montpelier, with the one closest to Montpelier listed first.
- Buffalo
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Pine Mills ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Pine Mills is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Mills
- Andalusia
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Blue Grass
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Fairport
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Fairport is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairport
- Edgington
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Edgington is located in Rock Island County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgington
- Jamestown
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Jamestown is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamestown
- Pleasant Prairie
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Pleasant Prairie is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Prairie
- Illinois City
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Illinois City is located in Rock Island County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Illinois City
- Buffalo Prairie
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Taylor Ridge
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Stockton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Stockton is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stockton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 189 people
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Marston
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Marston is located in Mercer County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marston
- Hamlet
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Hamlet is located in Mercer County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamlet
- Walcott
(10 miles [16.1 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 Montpelier. See our List of 1890's Communities around Montpelier.
Newspapers Published in Montpelier ...
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 137 newspapers that have been published in the area around Montpelier.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Montpelier, there are papers which were published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Montpelier.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Montpelier:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Muscatine County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cedar County
- Clinton County
- Louisa County
- Scott County
- Henry County
- Mercer County
- Rock Island 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 Montpelier, 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' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Montpelier) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |