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 Oakdale (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 Oakdale. 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 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.
Oakdale is located in Johnson 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 Johnson County: Benton, Cedar, Iowa, Linn, Louisa, Muscatine & Washington.
Below are the counties that are near Oakdale. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Oakdale:
- Johnson County (The home county of Oakdale)
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakdale, with the one closest to Oakdale listed first.
- Coralville
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- North Liberty
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Tiffin
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Iowa City
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- University Heights
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- University Heights is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for University Heights
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,025 people
- Solon
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Cou Falls
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Cou Falls is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cou Falls
- Cosgrove
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Cosgrove is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cosgrove
- Elmira
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Elmira is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmira
- Morse
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Morse is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morse
- Oxford
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Hills
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Midway ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Midway is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
- Benton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakdale, with the one closest to Oakdale listed first.
- Norway
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Atkins
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Watkins
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Watkins is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watkins
- Newhall
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Blairstown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Shellsburg
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Cedar County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakdale, with the one closest to Oakdale listed first.
- West Branch
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Downey
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Downey is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Downey
- Centerdale
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Centerdale is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerdale
- Cedar Bluff
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Cedar Bluff is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Bluff
- Springdale
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Springdale is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springdale
- Buchanan
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Buchanan is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buchanan
- Cedar Valley
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Cedar Valley is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Valley
- Mechanicsville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Mechanicsville is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mechanicsville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,116 people
- Rochester
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Rochester is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rochester
- Tipton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Stanwood
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Lime City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Lime City is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lime City
- Former names for Lime City:
- Lime Kilns
- Munn
- Clarence
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Iowa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakdale, with the one closest to Oakdale listed first.
- Amana
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Middle Amana
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- South Amana
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- West Amana
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- West Amana is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Amana
- Conroy
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Conroy is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conroy
- Williamsburg
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Parnell
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Marengo
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- North English
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Ladora
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Millersburg
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Millersburg is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millersburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 139 people
- Jones County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakdale, with the one closest to Oakdale listed first.
- Martelle
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Martelle is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martelle
- Population from the 2020 Census: 246 people
- Morley
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Morley is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 110 people
- Fairview
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Fairview is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
- Stone City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Stone City is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stone City
- Keokuk County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakdale, with the one closest to Oakdale listed first.
- Kinross
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Kinross is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kinross
- Population from the 2020 Census: 71 people
- Keota
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- South English
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- South English is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South English
- Population from the 2020 Census: 211 people
- Linn County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakdale, with the one closest to Oakdale listed first.
- Ely
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Western
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Western is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Western
- Lincolnway Village
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Lincolnway Village is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lincolnway Village
- Walford
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Walford is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walford
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,436 people
- Bertram
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Bertram is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bertram
- Population from the 2020 Census: 278 people
- Mount Vernon
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Fairfax
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Lisbon
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Grand View Village
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Grand View Village is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grand View Village
- Cedar Hills
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Cedar Hills is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Hills
- Cedar Rapids
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Covington
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Covington is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Covington
- Louisa
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Louisa is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Louisa
- Louisa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakdale, with the one closest to Oakdale listed first.
- Gladwin
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Gladwin is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gladwin
- Cotter
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Cotter is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cotter
- Population from the 2020 Census: 42 people
- Muscatine County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakdale, with the one closest to Oakdale listed first.
- West Liberty
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Nichols
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Nichols is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nichols
- Population from the 2020 Census: 358 people
- Atalissa
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Conesville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Conesville is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conesville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 427 people
- Moscow
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Moscow is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moscow
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakdale, with the one closest to Oakdale listed first.
- Kalona
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Riverside
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Wellman
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Nira
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Nira is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nira
- West Chester
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- West Chester is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Chester
- Population from the 2020 Census: 147 people
- Ainsworth
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Washington
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Oakdale, see our County-by-County Page for Oakdale.
Cemeteries Near Oakdale ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Oakdale.
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 Oakdale - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Oakdale covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Oakdale, with the one closest to Oakdale listed first.
- Morman Burying Ground
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Handcart Pioneer Burial Ground
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Oak Hill Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Alt Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alt Cemetery
- The Alt Cemetery has also been known as:
- Wein Burying Ground
- Wein Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2140588 <2>
- Ridgewood Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Summerhays Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Oakland Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- St. Joseph Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- St. Joseph Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Agudas Achim Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Oak Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Newport Twp. Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Continue List (344 more) ...
- Unity Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Welsh Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Welsh Cemetery
- The Welsh Cemetery has also been known as:
- First Welsh Congregational Church Cemetery
- Welsh Pioneer Cemetery
- Welsh UCC Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2163242 <2>
- Memory Gardens Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
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>
While we didn't find Oakdale in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Oakdale.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Oakdale, with the one closest to Oakdale listed first.
- Coralville
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- North Liberty
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Tiffin
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Iowa City
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Graham ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Graham is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graham
- Cosgrove
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Cosgrove is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cosgrove
- Solon
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Sharon Center
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Sharon Center is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharon Center
- Elmira
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Elmira is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmira
- Morse
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Morse is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morse
- Oxford
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Windham
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Windham is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windham
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Shueyville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Shueyville is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shueyville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 655 people
- Midway ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Midway is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
- Oasis
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Oasis is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oasis
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Oakdale. See our List of 1890's Communities around Oakdale.
Newspapers Published in Oakdale ...
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 150 newspapers that have been published in the area around Oakdale.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Oakdale, 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 Oakdale.
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 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 Oakdale:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Johnson County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Benton County
- Cedar County
- Iowa County
- Jones County
- Keokuk County
- Linn County
- Louisa County
- Muscatine County
- Washington 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 Oakdale, 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 from Point A (ie- Oakdale) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |