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 Mount Vernon (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 Mount Vernon. 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 Mount Vernon ...
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.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Mount Vernon: Mt. Vernon
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Mount Vernon. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Mount Vernon.
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.
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 and doctors 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.
Mount Vernon is located in Linn 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 Linn County: Benton, Buchanan, Cedar, Delaware, Iowa, Johnson & Jones.
Below are the counties that are near Mount Vernon. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Mount Vernon:
- Linn County (The home county of Mount Vernon)
- The following are listed by their distance from Mount Vernon, with the one closest to Mount Vernon listed first.
- Lisbon
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Bertram
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Bertram is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bertram
- Population from the 2020 Census: 278 people
- Ely
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Springville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Squaw Creek Village
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Squaw Creek Village is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Squaw Creek Village
- Viola
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Viola is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Viola
- Marion
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Western
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Western is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Western
- Lincolnway Village
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Lincolnway Village is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lincolnway Village
- Cedar Rapids
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Louisa
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Louisa is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Louisa
- Hiawatha
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Benton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mount Vernon, with the one closest to Mount Vernon listed first.
- Atkins
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Shellsburg
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Norway
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Newhall
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Watkins
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Watkins is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watkins
- Benton City ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Benton City is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton City
- Cedar County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mount Vernon, with the one closest to Mount Vernon listed first.
- Mechanicsville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Mechanicsville is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mechanicsville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,116 people
- Cedar Bluff
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Cedar Bluff is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Bluff
- Stanwood
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Buchanan
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Buchanan is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buchanan
- Cedar Valley
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Cedar Valley is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Valley
- West Branch
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Clarence
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Tipton
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Springdale
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Springdale is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springdale
- Centerdale
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Centerdale is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerdale
- Downey
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Downey is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Downey
- Rochester
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Rochester is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rochester
- Clinton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mount Vernon, with the one closest to Mount Vernon listed first.
- Toronto
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Toronto is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toronto
- Population from the 2020 Census: 119 people
- Wheatland
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Wheatland is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheatland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 724 people
- Delaware County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mount Vernon, with the one closest to Mount Vernon listed first.
- Ehler
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Ehler is located in Delaware County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ehler
- Ryan
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Hopkinton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Robinson
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Robinson is located in Delaware County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robinson
- Iowa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mount Vernon, with the one closest to Mount Vernon listed first.
- Amana
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Middle Amana
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- West Amana
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- West Amana is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Amana
- South Amana
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Jackson County
- Monmouth
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Monmouth is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monmouth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 154 people
- Johnson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mount Vernon, with the one closest to Mount Vernon listed first.
- Solon
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Morse
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Morse is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morse
- Shueyville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Shueyville is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shueyville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 655 people
- Elmira
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Elmira is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmira
- Cou Falls
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Cou Falls is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cou Falls
- Swisher
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Oasis
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Oasis is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oasis
- North Liberty
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Coralville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Oakdale
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Oakdale is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakdale
- Iowa City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Tiffin
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Jones County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mount Vernon, with the one closest to Mount Vernon listed first.
- Martelle
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Martelle is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martelle
- Population from the 2020 Census: 246 people
- Morley
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Morley is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 110 people
- Fairview
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Fairview is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
- Stone City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Stone City is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stone City
- Anamosa
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Olin
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Amber
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Amber is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amber
- Hale
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Hale is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hale
- Center Junction
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Center Junction is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Center Junction
- Estimated population in 2015: 111 people
- Langworthy
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Langworthy is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langworthy
- Wyoming
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Monticello
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Muscatine County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mount Vernon, with the one closest to Mount Vernon listed first.
- West Liberty
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Atalissa
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Moscow
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Moscow is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moscow
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Mount Vernon, see our County-by-County Page for Mount Vernon.
Cemeteries Near Mount Vernon ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Mount Vernon.
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 Mount Vernon - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Mount Vernon covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Mount Vernon, with the one closest to Mount Vernon listed first.
- Mt. Vernon Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Abbe Creek Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Lisbon Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lisbon Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Lisbon Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located in Lisbon.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #831032 <2>
- St. John Catholic Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- St. John's Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Craig Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Ivanhoe Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Andre Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Moore - Skillman Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Mt. Zion Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- St. Peter & Pauls Catholic Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Sutliff Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Continue List (322 more) ...
- Union Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Linn Grove Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Rogers Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
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 Mount Vernon had a population of 1,259 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Mount Vernon had a population of 4,528 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Mount Vernon, with the one closest to Mount Vernon listed first.
- Lisbon
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Bertram
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Bertram is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bertram
- Population from the 2020 Census: 278 people
- Martelle
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Martelle is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martelle
- Population from the 2020 Census: 246 people
- Paralta
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Paralta is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paralta
- Ely
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Solon
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Mechanicsville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Mechanicsville is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mechanicsville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,116 people
- Springville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Morley
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Morley is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 110 people
- Morse
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Morse is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morse
- Cedar Bluff
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Cedar Bluff is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Bluff
- Fairview
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Fairview is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Viola
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Viola is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Viola
- Marion
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- East Rapids
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- East Rapids is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Rapids
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Mount Vernon. See our List of 1890's Communities around Mount Vernon.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Mount Vernon ...
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 142 newspapers that have been published in the area around Mount Vernon.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Mount Vernon. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Mount Vernon and those printed in the larger area surrounding Mount Vernon.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<4> of Mount Vernon.
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 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 Mount Vernon:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Linn County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Benton County
- Cedar County
- Clinton County
- Delaware County
- Iowa County
- Jackson County
- Johnson County
- Jones County
- Muscatine 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 Mount Vernon, 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 from Point A (ie- Mount Vernon) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |