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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 Norway (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 Norway. 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.

Norway is located in Benton 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 Benton County: Black Hawk, Buchanan, Iowa, Johnson, Linn, Poweshiek & Tama.

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

  • Benton County     (The home county of Norway)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Norway, with the one closest to Norway listed first.
    • Watkins
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
      • Watkins is located in Benton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watkins
    • Newhall
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Atkins
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Blairstown
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Van Horne
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Van Horne is located in Benton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Van Horne
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 646 people
    • Shellsburg
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Luzerne
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Luzerne is located in Benton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Luzerne
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 92 people
    • Keystone
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Benton City ‑ Historic
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Benton City is located in Benton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton City
    • Vinton
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Belle Plaine
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Irving
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Irving is located in Benton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irving
  • Buchanan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Norway, with the one closest to Norway listed first.
    • Brandon
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Brandon is located in Buchanan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brandon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 320 people
    • Hamerville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Hamerville is located in Buchanan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamerville
  • Iowa County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Norway, with the one closest to Norway listed first.
    • West Amana
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • West Amana is located in Iowa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Amana
    • Amana
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Middle Amana
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • South Amana
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Marengo
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Conroy
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Conroy is located in Iowa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conroy
    • Dayton
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Dayton is located in Iowa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
    • Williamsburg
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Ladora
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Parnell
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Millersburg
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Millersburg is located in Iowa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millersburg
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 139 people
    • North English
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
  • Johnson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Norway, with the one closest to Norway listed first.
    • Swisher
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Shueyville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Shueyville is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shueyville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 655 people
    • Cou Falls
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Cou Falls is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cou Falls
    • Oxford
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Tiffin
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • North Liberty
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Cosgrove
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Cosgrove is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cosgrove
    • Coralville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Oakdale
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Oakdale is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakdale
    • Windham
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Windham is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windham
    • Solon
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Solon is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Solon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,771 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Solon <1>
    • Frytown
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Frytown is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frytown
  • Jones County
    • Martelle
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Martelle is located in Jones County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martelle
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 246 people
  • Keokuk County
    • Kinross
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Kinross is located in Keokuk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kinross
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 71 people
  • Linn County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Norway, with the one closest to Norway listed first.
    • Walford
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
      • Walford is located in Linn County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walford
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,436 people
    • Fairfax
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Grand View Village
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Grand View Village is located in Linn County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grand View Village
    • Cedar Hills
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Cedar Hills is located in Linn County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Hills
    • Covington
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Covington is located in Linn County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Covington
    • Lincolnway Village
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Lincolnway Village is located in Linn County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lincolnway Village
    • Palo
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Cedar Rapids
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Western
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Western is located in Linn County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Western
    • Hiawatha
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Louisa
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Louisa is located in Linn County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Louisa
    • Sunset Village
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Sunset Village is located in Linn County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunset Village
  • Poweshiek County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Norway, with the one closest to Norway listed first.
    • Victor
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Hartwick
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Hartwick is located in Poweshiek County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartwick
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 81 people
    • Guernsey
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Brooklyn
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Tama County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Norway, with the one closest to Norway listed first.
    • Elberon
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Chelsea
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Vining
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Vining is located in Tama County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vining
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 49 people
    • Clutier
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Dysart
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Long Point
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Long Point is located in Tama County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Point
    • Gladstone
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Gladstone is located in Tama County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gladstone
  • Washington County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Norway, with the one closest to Norway listed first.
    • Kalona
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Kalona is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kalona
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,560 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Kalona <1>
    • Nira
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Nira is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nira
    • Wellman
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)

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

Cemeteries Near Norway ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Norway.

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

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

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

  • St. Michaels Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Norway Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • St. Patricks Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Mound Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Lenox Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Linwood Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Conn Pioneer Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • West Amana Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Hala Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • St. Patricks Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Fairfax Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • St. Stephens Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (310 more) ...
    • Raetz Memorial Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raetz Memorial Cemetery
      • To give a relative sense of its location, the Raetz Memorial Cemetery is located less than 2 miles<3> to the west of Atkins.
      • The Raetz Memorial Cemetery has also been known as:
      • Raetz Cemetery
      • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #95910 <2>
    • Prairie Lutheran Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Bishop 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.<4>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Norway had a population of 401 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Norway had a population of 528 people.

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

  • Watkins
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Watkins is located in Benton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watkins
  • Walford
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Walford is located in Linn County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walford
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,436 people
  • Newhall
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Amana
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Fairfax
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Atkins
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Blairstown
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • South Amana
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
  • Marengo
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Homestead
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
  • Covington
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Covington is located in Linn County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Covington
  • Van Horne
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Van Horne is located in Benton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Van Horne
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 646 people
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Conroy
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Conroy is located in Iowa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conroy
    • Palo
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Shellsburg
      (13 miles [20.9 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 Norway. See our List of 1890's Communities around Norway.

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Norway ...

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 97 newspapers that have been published in the area around Norway.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Norway. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Norway and those printed in the larger area surrounding Norway.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3> of Norway.

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 helpful 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 Norway:

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>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 from Point A (ie- Norway) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<4>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 Norway, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.