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 Moran (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 Moran. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
Moran is located in Dallas 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 Dallas County: Adair, Boone, Greene, Guthrie, Madison, Polk & Warren.
Below are the counties that are near Moran. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Moran:
- Dallas County (The home county of Moran)
- The following are listed by their distance from Moran, with the one closest to Moran listed first.
- Woodward
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Xenia
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Xenia is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Xenia
- High Bridge
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- High Bridge is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High Bridge
- Bouton
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Granger
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Minburn
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Minburn is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minburn
- Population from the 2020 Census: 357 people
- Dallas Center
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Perry
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Waukee
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Panther
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Panther is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panther
- Adel
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Dawson
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Dawson is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dawson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 127 people
- Boone County
- The following are listed by their distance from Moran, with the one closest to Moran listed first.
- Madrid
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Luther
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Luther is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Luther
- Population from the 2020 Census: 133 people
- Moingona
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Moingona is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moingona
- Berkley
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Berkley is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berkley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 33 people
- Ogden
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Boone
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Jordan
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Jordan is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jordan
- Centerville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Centerville is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
- Beaver
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Beaver is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver
- Population from the 2020 Census: 50 people
- Fraser
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Fraser is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fraser
- Population from the 2020 Census: 103 people
- Pilot Mound
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Pilot Mound is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pilot Mound
- Population from the 2020 Census: 170 people
- Mackey
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Mackey is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mackey
- Greene County
- The following are listed by their distance from Moran, with the one closest to Moran listed first.
- Rippey
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Rippey is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rippey
- Population from the 2020 Census: 269 people
- Grand Junction
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Cooper
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Cooper is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooper
- Dana
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Dana is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dana
- Population from the 2020 Census: 67 people
- Jefferson
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Paton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Guthrie County
- The following are listed by their distance from Moran, with the one closest to Moran listed first.
- Jamaica
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Herndon
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Herndon is located in Guthrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herndon
- Yale
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Yale is located in Guthrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 239 people
- Panora
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Dale
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Dale is located in Guthrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dale
- Bagley
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Bagley is located in Guthrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bagley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 285 people
- Glendon
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Glendon is located in Guthrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glendon
- Stuart
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Jasper County
- Valeria
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Valeria is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valeria
- Population from the 2020 Census: 58 people
- Madison County
- Earlham
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Polk County
- The following are listed by their distance from Moran, with the one closest to Moran listed first.
- Andrews
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Andrews is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Andrews
- Polk City Junction
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Polk City Junction is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Polk City Junction
- Polk City
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Grimes
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Herrold
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Herrold is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herrold
- Sheldahl
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Sheldahl is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheldahl
- Population from the 2020 Census: 325 people
- Johnston
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Urbandale
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Clive
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Alleman
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Alleman is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alleman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 447 people
- Ankeny
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Saylorville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Saylorville is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saylorville
- Story County
- The following are listed by their distance from Moran, with the one closest to Moran listed first.
- Slater
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Kelley
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Huxley
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Midvale
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Midvale is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midvale
- Ontario
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Ontario is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ontario
- Cambridge
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Ames
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Zenorsville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Zenorsville is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zenorsville
- Shipley
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Shipley is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shipley
- Gilbert
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Maxwell
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Iowa Center
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Iowa Center is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iowa Center
- Warren County
- The following are listed by their distance from Moran, with the one closest to Moran listed first.
- Orillia
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Orillia is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orillia
- Cumming
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Lakewood
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Lakewood is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood
- Churchville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Churchville is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Churchville
- Prole
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Prole is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prole
- Spring Hill
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Spring Hill is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 65 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Moran, see our County-by-County Page for Moran.
Cemeteries Near Moran ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Moran.
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 Moran - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Moran covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Moran, with the one closest to Moran listed first.
- Greenwood Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Robbins Chapel Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Beaver Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Woodward Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Snider Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Xenia Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- State Hospital Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for State Hospital Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the State Hospital Cemetery is located outside and to the northeast of Woodward.
- The State Hospital Cemetery has also been known as:
- Woodmeadow Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2447643 <2>
- Mt. Hope Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Cassel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Hopkins Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- United Brethren Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Dalander Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (261 more) ...
- Liberty Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Hillsdale Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Fairview Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
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 Moran in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Moran.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Moran, with the one closest to Moran listed first.
- Woodward
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- High Bridge
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- High Bridge is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High Bridge
- Granger
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Bouton
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Madrid
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Minburn
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Minburn is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minburn
- Population from the 2020 Census: 357 people
- Ingersoll ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Ingersoll is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ingersoll
- Dallas Center
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Perry
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Grimes
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Polk City Junction
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Polk City Junction is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Polk City Junction
- Sheldahl
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Sheldahl is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheldahl
- Population from the 2020 Census: 325 people
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Luther
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Luther is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Luther
- Population from the 2020 Census: 133 people
- Crocker
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Crocker is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crocker
- Slater
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Moran. See our List of 1890's Communities around Moran.
Newspapers Published in Moran ...
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 224 newspapers that have been published in the area around Moran.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Moran, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Moran.
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 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 Moran:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Dallas County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Boone County
- Greene County
- Guthrie County
- Jasper County
- Madison County
- Polk County
- Story County
- Warren 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 Moran, 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- Moran) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |