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 Newell (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 Newell. 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.
Newell is located in Buena Vista 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 Buena Vista County: Calhoun, Cherokee, Clay, Ida, O'Brien, Palo Alto, Pocahontas & Sac.
Below are the counties that are near Newell. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Newell:
- Buena Vista County (The home county of Newell)
- The following are listed by their distance from Newell, with the one closest to Newell listed first.
- Juniata
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Juniata is located in Buena Vista County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Juniata
- Lakeside
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Lakeside is located in Buena Vista County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeside
- Population from the 2020 Census: 690 people
- Storm Lake
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Casino Beach
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Casino Beach is located in Buena Vista County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Casino Beach
- Albert City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Truesdale
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Alta
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Alta is located in Buena Vista County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alta
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,916 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Alta <1>
- Marathon
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Marathon is located in Buena Vista County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marathon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 228 people
- Rembrandt
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Sioux Rapids
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Elkton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Elkton is located in Buena Vista County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkton
- Linn Grove
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Calhoun County
- The following are listed by their distance from Newell, with the one closest to Newell listed first.
- Lytton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Lytton is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lytton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 285 people
- Pomeroy
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Jolley
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Jolley is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jolley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 37 people
- Twin Lakes
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Twin Lakes is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin Lakes
- Yetter
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Yetter is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yetter
- Population from the 2020 Census: 31 people
- Sherwood
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Sherwood is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherwood
- Rockwell City
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Manson
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Lake City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Knierim
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Knierim is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knierim
- Population from the 2020 Census: 57 people
- Rands
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Rands is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rands
- Carroll County
- Breda
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Breda is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Breda
- Population from the 2020 Census: 471 people
- Cherokee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Newell, with the one closest to Newell listed first.
- Aurelia
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Cherokee
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Clay County
- The following are listed by their distance from Newell, with the one closest to Newell listed first.
- Webb
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Webb is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webb
- Population from the 2020 Census: 126 people
- Cornell
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Cornell is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornell
- Peterson
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Gillett Grove
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Gillett Grove is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gillett Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 47 people
- Greenville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Rossie
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Rossie is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rossie
- Population from the 2020 Census: 67 people
- Humboldt County
- Gilmore City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Ida County
- The following are listed by their distance from Newell, with the one closest to Newell listed first.
- Galva
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Arthur
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Arthur is located in Ida County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arthur
- Population from the 2020 Census: 194 people
- Holstein
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Ida Grove
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Palo Alto County
- The following are listed by their distance from Newell, with the one closest to Newell listed first.
- Mallard
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Curlew
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Curlew is located in Palo Alto County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curlew
- Population from the 2020 Census: 55 people
- Ayrshire
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Pocahontas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Newell, with the one closest to Newell listed first.
- Varina
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Varina is located in Pocahontas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Varina
- Population from the 2020 Census: 64 people
- Fonda
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Laurens
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Pocahontas
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Palmer
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Havelock
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Plover
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Plover is located in Pocahontas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plover
- Population from the 2020 Census: 69 people
- Rolfe
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Sac County
- The following are listed by their distance from Newell, with the one closest to Newell listed first.
- Nemaha
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Nemaha is located in Sac County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nemaha
- Population from the 2020 Census: 80 people
- Sac City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Early
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Schaller
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Lake View
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Sac City Junction ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Sac City Junction is located in Sac County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sac City Junction
- Wall Lake
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Wall Lake is located in Sac County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wall Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 753 people
- Grant City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Grant City is located in Sac County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grant City
- Odebolt
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Odebolt is located in Sac County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Odebolt
- Population from the 2020 Census: 933 people
- Auburn
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Herring ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Herring is located in Sac County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herring
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Newell, see our County-by-County Page for Newell.
Cemeteries Near Newell ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Newell.
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 Newell - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Newell covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Newell, with the one closest to Newell listed first.
- Newell Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Newell Catholic Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Cooke Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- First M E Church Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Varina Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- St. Johns Church of Christ Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Zion Lutheran Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- St. Johns Lutheran Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- St. Johns Lutheran Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Nemaha Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Cedar Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- St. Columbkille's Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Continue List (145 more) ...
- St. Marys Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Storm Lake Municipal Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Zion Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 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.<3>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Newell had a population of 540 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Newell had a population of 859 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Newell, with the one closest to Newell listed first.
- Sulphur Springs
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Sulphur Springs is located in Buena Vista County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sulphur Springs
- Fonda
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Storm Lake
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Early
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Sac City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Alta
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Alta is located in Buena Vista County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alta
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,916 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Alta <1>
- Schaller
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Pomeroy
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Jolley
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Jolley is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jolley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 37 people
- Marathon
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Marathon is located in Buena Vista County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marathon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 228 people
- Laurens
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Hanover
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Hanover is located in Buena Vista County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanover
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Pocahontas
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Lake View
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Sioux Rapids
(20 miles [32.2 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 Newell. See our List of 1890's Communities around Newell.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Newell ...
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 139 newspapers that have been published in the area around Newell.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Newell. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Newell and those printed in the larger area surrounding Newell.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4> of Newell.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we begin with 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 Newell:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Buena Vista County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Calhoun County
- Carroll County
- Cherokee County
- Clay County
- Humboldt County
- Ida County
- Palo Alto County
- Pocahontas County
- Sac 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 Newell, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a '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- Newell) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |