RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Iowa >> Winneshiek County >> Nordness >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 Nordness (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 Nordness. 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 northwest 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 north.

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 north 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.

Nordness is located in Winneshiek 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 Winneshiek County: Allamakee, Chickasaw, Clayton, Fayette, Howard, Fillmore (MN) & Houston (MN).

Below are the counties that are near Nordness. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Nordness:

  • Winneshiek County     (The home county of Nordness)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Nordness, with the one closest to Nordness listed first.
    • Decorah
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Ossian
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Calmar
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Frankville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Frankville is located in Winneshiek County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frankville
    • Castalia
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Castalia is located in Winneshiek County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Castalia
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 156 people
    • Festina
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Spillville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Fort Atkinson
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Ridgeway
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Bluffton
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Bluffton is located in Winneshiek County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluffton
    • Highlandville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Highlandville is located in Winneshiek County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highlandville
    • Burr Oak
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
  • Allamakee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Nordness, with the one closest to Nordness listed first.
    • Postville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Waukon
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Waukon is located in Allamakee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waukon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,600 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Waukon <1>
    • Quandahl
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Quandahl is located in Allamakee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quandahl
    • Lycurgus
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Lycurgus is located in Allamakee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lycurgus
    • Rossville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Rossville is located in Allamakee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rossville
    • Volney
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Volney is located in Allamakee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Volney
    • Dorchester
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Elon
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Elon is located in Allamakee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elon
    • Waterville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Waterville is located in Allamakee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 142 people
    • Dalby
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Dalby is located in Allamakee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dalby
    • Ion
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Ion is located in Allamakee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ion
    • Lansing
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
  • Chickasaw County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Nordness, with the one closest to Nordness listed first.
    • Lawler
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Jerico
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Jerico is located in Chickasaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jerico
    • Fredericksburg
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • New Hampton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Clayton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Nordness, with the one closest to Nordness listed first.
    • Hardin
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Hardin is located in Clayton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hardin
    • Luana
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Gunder
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Gunder is located in Clayton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gunder
    • Monona
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Watson
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Watson is located in Clayton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watson
    • Beulah
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Beulah is located in Clayton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beulah
    • Farmersburg
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Farmersburg is located in Clayton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farmersburg
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 264 people
    • Saint Olaf
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Fayette County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Nordness, with the one closest to Nordness listed first.
    • Saint Lucas
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Saint Lucas is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Lucas
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 134 people
    • Douglass
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Douglass is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Douglass
    • Clermont
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Waucoma
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • West Union
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Elgin
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Brainard
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Brainard is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brainard
    • Alpha
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Alpha is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alpha
    • Hawkeye
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Hawkeye is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawkeye
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 399 people
    • Donnan
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Donnan is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Donnan
    • Illyria
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Illyria is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Illyria
    • Randalia
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Randalia is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Randalia
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 60 people
  • Howard County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Nordness, with the one closest to Nordness listed first.
    • Protivin
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Cresco
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Vernon Springs
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Vernon Springs is located in Howard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vernon Springs
    • Florenceville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Florenceville is located in Howard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florenceville
    • Davis Corners
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Davis Corners is located in Howard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis Corners
    • Forest City ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Forest City is located in Howard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest City
    • Lime Springs
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Fillmore County (MN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Nordness, with the one closest to Nordness listed first.
    • Mabel
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Mabel is located in Fillmore County (MN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mabel
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 744 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mabel <1>
    • Canton
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Canton is located in Fillmore County (MN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 342 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Canton <1>
    • Newburg
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Newburg is located in Fillmore County (MN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newburg
    • Harmony
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Harmony is located in Fillmore County (MN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harmony
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 982 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Harmony <1>
    • Granger
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Granger is located in Fillmore County (MN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granger
  • Houston County (MN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Nordness, with the one closest to Nordness listed first.
    • Bee
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Bee is located in Houston County (MN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bee
    • Riceford
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Riceford is located in Houston County (MN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riceford
    • Spring Grove
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Eitzen
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Eitzen is located in Houston County (MN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eitzen
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 248 people
    • Wilmington
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Wilmington is located in Houston County (MN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmington
    • Willington Grove
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Willington Grove is located in Houston County (MN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willington Grove
    • Caledonia
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Nordness, see our County-by-County Page for Nordness.

Cemeteries Near Nordness ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Nordness.

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 Nordness - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Nordness covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Nordness, with the one closest to Nordness listed first.

  • Bruvold Farm Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Norwegian Methodist Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Washington Prairie Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Springfield Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • North Washington Prairie Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Pioneer Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Union Prairie Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • St. Benedict Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Freeport Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Phelps Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Centennial Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • East Freeport Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (319 more) ...

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 in 1895, Nordness had a post office and railroad service.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Nordness, with the one closest to Nordness listed first.

  • Freeport
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Freeport is located in Winneshiek County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeport
  • Decorah
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Conover
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Conover is located in Winneshiek County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conover
  • Calmar
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Ossian
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Frankville
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Frankville is located in Winneshiek County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frankville
  • Washington Prairie
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Washington Prairie is located in Winneshiek County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Washington Prairie
  • Thoten
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Thoten is located in Winneshiek County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thoten
  • Spillville
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
  • Festina
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Castalia
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Castalia is located in Winneshiek County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Castalia
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 156 people
  • Fort Atkinson
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Springwater
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Springwater is located in Winneshiek County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springwater
    • Ridgeway
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Eldorado
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Eldorado is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eldorado

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Nordness. See our List of 1890's Communities around Nordness.

Newspapers Published in Nordness ...

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 134 newspapers that have been published in the area around Nordness.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Nordness, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Nordness.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These 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 Nordness:

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 Nordness, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Nordness) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.