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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 Norwalk (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 Norwalk. 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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.

Norwalk is primarily located in Polk County. A portion of Norwalk extends into Warren 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 Polk County: Boone, Dallas, Jasper, Madison, Marion, Story & Warren.

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

  • Polk County     (The home county of Norwalk)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Norwalk, with the one closest to Norwalk listed first.
    • Commerce
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
      • Commerce is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Commerce
    • West Des Moines
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Windsor Heights
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Des Moines
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Carlisle
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Levey
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Levey is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Levey
    • Pleasant Hill
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Clive
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Country Estate Village
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Urbandale
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Marquisville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Marquisville is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marquisville
    • Rising Sun
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Rising Sun is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rising Sun
  • Boone County
    • Madrid
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
  • Clarke County
    • Liberty
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Liberty is located in Clarke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty
  • Dallas County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Norwalk, with the one closest to Norwalk listed first.
    • Booneville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Waukee
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Van Meter
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • DeSoto
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Adel
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Adel is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adel
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,607 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Adel <1>
    • Dallas Center
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Granger
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • High Bridge
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • High Bridge is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High Bridge
    • Minburn
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Minburn is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minburn
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 357 people
    • Panther
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Panther is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panther
    • Wiscotta
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Wiscotta is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wiscotta
    • Redfield
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
  • Jasper County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Norwalk, with the one closest to Norwalk listed first.
    • Vandalia
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Vandalia is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vandalia
    • Prairie City
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Oswalt
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Oswalt is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oswalt
    • Valeria
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Valeria is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valeria
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 58 people
    • Colfax
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Green Castle
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Green Castle is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Castle
    • Mingo
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Goddard
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Goddard is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goddard
    • Monroe
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
    • Metz
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Metz is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Metz
  • Madison County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Norwalk, with the one closest to Norwalk listed first.
    • Patterson
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Patterson is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 163 people
    • Saint Charles
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Winterset
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Truro
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • East Peru
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • East Peru is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Peru
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 133 people
    • Earlham
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Ord
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Ord is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ord
    • Barney
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Barney is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barney
    • Pitzer
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Pitzer is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pitzer
    • Webster
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Webster is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
  • Marion County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Norwalk, with the one closest to Norwalk listed first.
    • Swan
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Swan is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swan
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 74 people
    • Percy ‑ Historic
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Percy is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Percy
    • Pleasantville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Bauer
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Bauer is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bauer
    • Melcher - Dallas
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Melcher - Dallas is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melcher - Dallas
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,236 people
    • Newbern
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Newbern is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newbern
    • Cordova
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Cordova is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cordova
  • Story County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Norwalk, with the one closest to Norwalk listed first.
    • Slater
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Huxley
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Cambridge
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Midvale
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Midvale is located in Story County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midvale
  • Warren County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Norwalk, with the one closest to Norwalk listed first.
    • Lakewood
      (Less than 2 miles to the north)
      • Lakewood is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood
    • Orillia
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Orillia is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orillia
    • Cumming
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Prole
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Prole is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prole
    • Spring Hill
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Spring Hill is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Hill
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 65 people
    • Churchville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Churchville is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Churchville
    • Martensdale
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Indianola
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Bevington
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Saint Marys
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Saint Marys is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Marys
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 127 people
    • Palmyra
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Palmyra is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmyra
    • Ackworth
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Ackworth is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ackworth
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 105 people

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

Cemeteries Near Norwalk ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Norwalk.

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

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

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

  • Sunset Memorial Gardens
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Pleasant Ridge Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Webb Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • St. Johns Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Linn Grove Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • North River Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Ft. Des Moines Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Oak Grove Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Jordan Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Resthaven Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Scotch Ridge Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Elm Grove Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (291 more) ...
    • Dale Moffit Reservoir Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • St. Patricks Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Calvary Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)

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, Norwalk had a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Norwalk had a population of 12,449 people.

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

  • Orillia
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Orillia is located in Warren County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orillia
  • Cumming
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Valley Junction
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Valley Junction is located in Polk County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley Junction
  • Prole
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Prole is located in Warren County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prole
  • Spring Hill
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Spring Hill is located in Warren County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Hill
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 65 people
  • Commerce
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Commerce is located in Polk County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Commerce
  • Ashawa
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Ashawa is located in Polk County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashawa
  • Churchville
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Churchville is located in Warren County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Churchville
  • Summerset
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Summerset is located in Warren County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summerset
  • Avon
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Avon is located in Polk County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avon
  • East Des Moines
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • East Des Moines is located in Polk County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Des Moines
  • Des Moines
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Carlisle
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Levey
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Levey is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Levey
    • Bevington
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)

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

Newspapers Published in Norwalk ...

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 48 newspapers that have been published in the area around Norwalk.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Norwalk, there are papers which were published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Norwalk.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Norwalk:

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