Our Genealogy Helper
Introduction ...
So far, we found very little information about Norman. The little that we've found leads us believe that the community is historic.<1>
We've added Norman to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Norman, please Contact Us.
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 Norman (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 Norman. 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.
Although our information shows that the community of Norman is historic, it would have been located within present day Winnebago 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 Winnebago County: Cerro Gordo, Hancock, Kossuth, Worth, Faribault (MN) & Freeborn (MN).
Below are the counties that are near Norman. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Norman:
- Winnebago County (The home county of Norman)
- The following are listed by their distance from Norman, with the one closest to Norman listed first.
- Lake Mills
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Scarville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Vinje
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Vinje is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vinje
- Leland
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Leland is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 268 people
- Thompson
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Forest City
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Rake
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Rake is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 206 people
- Buffalo Center
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Cerro Gordo County
- The following are listed by their distance from Norman, with the one closest to Norman listed first.
- Creamery
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Creamery is located in Cerro Gordo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creamery
- Clear Lake
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Ventura
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Plymouth
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Plymouth is located in Cerro Gordo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plymouth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 361 people
- Plymouth Junction
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Plymouth Junction is located in Cerro Gordo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plymouth Junction
- Mason City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Rock Falls
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Rock Falls is located in Cerro Gordo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Falls
- Population from the 2020 Census: 146 people
- Mason City Junction
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Mason City Junction is located in Cerro Gordo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mason City Junction
- Hancock County
- The following are listed by their distance from Norman, with the one closest to Norman listed first.
- Crystal Lake
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Crystal Lake is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crystal Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 228 people
- Garner
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Woden
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Duncan
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Duncan is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duncan
- Kossuth County
- The following are listed by their distance from Norman, with the one closest to Norman listed first.
- German Valley
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- German Valley is located in Kossuth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for German Valley
- Lakota
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Lakota is located in Kossuth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakota
- Population from the 2020 Census: 275 people
- Mitchell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Norman, with the one closest to Norman listed first.
- Carpenter
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Carpenter is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carpenter
- Population from the 2020 Census: 108 people
- Saint Ansgar
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Toeterville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Worth County
- The following are listed by their distance from Norman, with the one closest to Norman listed first.
- Bristol
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Bristol is located in Worth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bristol
- Silver Lake
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Silver Lake is located in Worth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Lake
- Joice
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Joice is located in Worth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joice
- Population from the 2020 Census: 209 people
- Northwood
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Hanlontown
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Hanlontown is located in Worth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanlontown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
- Fertile
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Kensett
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Kensett is located in Worth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kensett
- Population from the 2020 Census: 249 people
- Bolan
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Bolan is located in Worth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolan
- Manly
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Grafton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Faribault County (MN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Norman, with the one closest to Norman listed first.
- Walters
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Walters is located in Faribault County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walters
- Population from the 2020 Census: 67 people
- Kiester
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Bricelyn
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Bricelyn is located in Faribault County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bricelyn
- Population from the 2020 Census: 334 people
- Wells
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Wells is located in Faribault County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wells
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,157 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Wells <2>
- Dell
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Dell is located in Faribault County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dell
- Frost
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Frost is located in Faribault County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frost
- Population from the 2020 Census: 181 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Frost <2>
- Easton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Easton is located in Faribault County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Easton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 183 people
- Minnesota Lake
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Elmore
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Elmore is located in Faribault County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmore
- Population from the 2020 Census: 613 people
- Freeborn County (MN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Norman, with the one closest to Norman listed first.
- Emmons
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Emmons is located in Freeborn County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emmons
- Population from the 2020 Census: 380 people
- Twin Lakes
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Twin Lakes is located in Freeborn County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin Lakes
- Population from the 2020 Census: 149 people
- Conger
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Conger is located in Freeborn County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conger
- Population from the 2020 Census: 144 people
- Alden
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Albert Lea
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Glenville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Manchester
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Manchester is located in Freeborn County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manchester
- Population from the 2020 Census: 55 people
- Hayward
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Myrtle
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Myrtle is located in Freeborn County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myrtle
- Population from the 2020 Census: 46 people
- Freeborn
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Clarks Grove
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Hartland
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Hartland is located in Freeborn County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 307 people
- Mower County (MN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Norman, with the one closest to Norman listed first.
- Lyle
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Varco
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Varco is located in Mower County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Varco
- Austin
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Mapleview
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Mapleview is located in Mower County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mapleview
- Population from the 2020 Census: 177 people
- Steele County (MN)
- Ellendale
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Waseca County (MN)
- New Richland
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Norman, see our County-by-County Page for Norman.
Cemeteries Near Norman ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Norman.
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 Norman - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Norman covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Norman, with the one closest to Norman listed first.
- Oak Lawn Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Lime Creek Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lime Creek Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery
- The Lime Creek Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery has also been known as:
- Lime Creek Cemetery
- Lime Creek Lutheran Cemetery
- Lime Creek Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #690479 <3>
- Lime Creek Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lime Creek Cemetery
- The Lime Creek Cemetery has also been known as:
- Lime Creek Lutheran Church Cemetery
- Salem Memorial Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Salem Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- St. James Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Brush Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Synod Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- St. Patricks Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Bristol Protestant Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- South Silver Lake Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Bear Lake Concordia Lutheran Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Continue List (225 more) ...
- Synod Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Sunnyside Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Rugland Family Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 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.
Norman itself is historic and was described in the Rand McNally Atlas as having a population of 68 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Norman, with the one closest to Norman listed first.
- Emmons
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Emmons is located in Freeborn County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emmons
- Population from the 2020 Census: 380 people
- Lake Mills
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Bristol
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Bristol is located in Worth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bristol
- Somber
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Somber is located in Worth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Somber
- Silver Lake
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Silver Lake is located in Worth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Lake
- Twin Lakes
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Twin Lakes is located in Freeborn County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin Lakes
- Population from the 2020 Census: 149 people
- Mansfield
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Mansfield is located in Freeborn County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mansfield
- Armstrong
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Armstrong is located in Freeborn County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armstrong
- Kiester
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Leland
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Leland is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 268 people
- Alden
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Gordonsville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Gordonsville is located in Freeborn County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gordonsville
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Glenville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Albert Lea
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Northwood
(14 miles [22.5 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 Norman. See our List of 1890's Communities around Norman.
Newspapers Published in Norman ...
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 123 newspapers that have been published in the area around Norman.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Norman, 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 Norman.
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 Norman:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Winnebago County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cerro Gordo County
- Hancock County
- Kossuth County
- Mitchell County
- Worth County
- Faribault County
- Freeborn County
- Mower County
- Steele County
- Waseca County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Iowa
Footnotes ...
| <1> | 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 Norman, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <2> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <3> | 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. |
| <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- Norman) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |