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 Murray (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 Murray. 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 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.
Murray is located in Clarke 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 Clarke County: Decatur, Lucas, Madison, Ringgold, Union, Warren & Wayne.
Below are the counties that are near Murray. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Murray:
- Clarke County (The home county of Murray)
- The following are listed by their distance from Murray, with the one closest to Murray listed first.
- Hopeville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Hopeville is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopeville
- Lacelle
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Lacelle is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacelle
- Osceola
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Green Bay ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Green Bay is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Bay
- Weldon
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Weldon is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weldon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 104 people
- Liberty
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Liberty is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty
- Woodburn
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Adair County
- The following are listed by their distance from Murray, with the one closest to Murray listed first.
- Zion
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Zion is located in Adair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zion
- Hebron
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Hebron is located in Adair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hebron
- Stanzel
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Stanzel is located in Adair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stanzel
- Orient
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Arbor Hill
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Arbor Hill is located in Adair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arbor Hill
- Decatur County
- The following are listed by their distance from Murray, with the one closest to Murray listed first.
- Van Wert
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Van Wert is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Van Wert
- Population from the 2020 Census: 208 people
- Grand River
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Grand River is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grand River
- Population from the 2020 Census: 215 people
- Decatur City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Decatur City is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Decatur City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 181 people
- Le Roy
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Le Roy is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Le Roy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 14 people
- Garden Grove
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Garden Grove is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 200 people
- Leon
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Davis City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Davis City is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 187 people
- Lamoni
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Woodland
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Woodland is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland
- Lucas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Murray, with the one closest to Murray listed first.
- Lucas
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Lucas is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucas
- Population from the 2020 Census: 207 people
- Derby
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Derby is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Derby
- Population from the 2020 Census: 111 people
- Madison County
- The following are listed by their distance from Murray, with the one closest to Murray listed first.
- Barney
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Barney is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barney
- East Peru
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- East Peru is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Peru
- Population from the 2020 Census: 133 people
- Truro
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Ord
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Ord is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ord
- Macksburg
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Macksburg is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macksburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 122 people
- Saint Charles
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Winterset
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Patterson
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Patterson is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 163 people
- Webster
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Webster is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
- Pitzer
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Pitzer is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pitzer
- Ringgold County
- The following are listed by their distance from Murray, with the one closest to Murray listed first.
- Beaconsfield
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Beaconsfield is located in Ringgold County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaconsfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 15 people
- Ellston
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Ellston is located in Ringgold County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellston
- Population from the 2020 Census: 38 people
- Tingley
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Kellerton
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Knowlton ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Knowlton is located in Ringgold County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knowlton
- Diagonal
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Mount Ayr
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Union County
- The following are listed by their distance from Murray, with the one closest to Murray listed first.
- Thayer
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Thayer is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thayer
- Population from the 2020 Census: 58 people
- Lorimor
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Lorimor is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lorimor
- Population from the 2020 Census: 341 people
- Afton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Arispe
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Arispe is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arispe
- Population from the 2020 Census: 96 people
- Shannon City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Shannon City is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shannon City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 69 people
- East Creston
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- East Creston is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Creston
- Creston
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Cromwell
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Cromwell is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cromwell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 105 people
- Kent
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Kent is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kent
- Warren County
- The following are listed by their distance from Murray, with the one closest to Murray listed first.
- New Virginia
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Saint Marys
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Saint Marys is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Marys
- Population from the 2020 Census: 127 people
- Bevington
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Cool
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Cool is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cool
- Liberty Center
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Liberty Center is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty Center
- Martensdale
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Churchville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Churchville is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Churchville
- Prole
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Prole is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prole
- Spring Hill
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Spring Hill is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 65 people
- Indianola
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Wayne County
- Humeston
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Murray, see our County-by-County Page for Murray.
Cemeteries Near Murray ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Murray.
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 Murray - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Murray covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Murray, with the one closest to Murray listed first.
- Murray Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Troy Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Claypool Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Thayer Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Sanders Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- West Union Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Reasoner Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Hopeville Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Union Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Bethel Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Beulah Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Otterbein Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Continue List (254 more) ...
- Lacelle Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Cox Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Lorimor Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
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 Murray had a population of 666 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Murray had a population of 681 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Murray, with the one closest to Murray listed first.
- Thayer
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Thayer is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thayer
- Population from the 2020 Census: 58 people
- Hopeville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Hopeville is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopeville
- Lacelle
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Lacelle is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacelle
- Monette
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Monette is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monette
- Groveland ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Groveland is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Groveland
- Lorimor
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Lorimor is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lorimor
- Population from the 2020 Census: 341 people
- Talmage
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Talmage is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Talmage
- Afton Junction ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Afton Junction is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Afton Junction
- Barney
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Barney is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barney
- Osceola
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Leslie
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Leslie is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leslie
- Green Bay ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Green Bay is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Bay
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Jamison
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Jamison is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamison
- Truro
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- East Peru
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- East Peru is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Peru
- Population from the 2020 Census: 133 people
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Murray. See our List of 1890's Communities around Murray.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Murray ...
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 116 newspapers that have been published in the area around Murray.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Murray. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Murray and those printed in the larger area surrounding Murray.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4> of Murray.
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 Murray:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Clarke County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Adair County
- Decatur County
- Lucas County
- Madison County
- Ringgold County
- Union County
- Warren County
- Wayne 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 Murray, 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 from Point A (ie- Murray) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |