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 Oakville (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 Oakville. 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 southwest 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 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 west 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.
Oakville is located in Louisa 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 Louisa County: Des Moines, Henry, Johnson, Muscatine, Washington, Mercer (IL) & Rock Island (IL).
Below are the counties that are near Oakville. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Oakville:
- Louisa County (The home county of Oakville)
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakville, with the one closest to Oakville listed first.
- Elrick Junction
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Elrick Junction is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elrick Junction
- Wapello
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Wapello is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wapello
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,999 people
- Morning Sun
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Grandview
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Grandview is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grandview
- Population from the 2020 Census: 519 people
- Letts
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Columbus City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Columbus City is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbus City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 371 people
- Columbus Junction
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Fredonia
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Fredonia is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fredonia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
- Wyman
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Wyman is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyman
- Cotter
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Cotter is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cotter
- Population from the 2020 Census: 42 people
- Gladwin
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Gladwin is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gladwin
- Des Moines County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakville, with the one closest to Oakville listed first.
- Kingston
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Kingston is located in Des Moines County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingston
- Mediapolis
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Sperry
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Sperry is located in Des Moines County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sperry
- Dodgeville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Dodgeville is located in Des Moines County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dodgeville
- Kline
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Kline is located in Des Moines County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kline
- Yarmouth
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Burlington
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- West Burlington
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Danville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Danville is located in Des Moines County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 896 people
- Middletown
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Middletown is located in Des Moines County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middletown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 335 people
- Patterson
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Patterson is located in Des Moines County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson
- Henry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakville, with the one closest to Oakville listed first.
- Mount Union
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Mount Union is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Union
- Estimated population in 2017: 107 people
- Winfield
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- New London
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Olds
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Olds is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olds
- Population from the 2020 Census: 222 people
- Swedesburg
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Swedesburg is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swedesburg
- Lowell
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Lowell is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowell
- Mount Pleasant
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Lee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakville, with the one closest to Oakville listed first.
- South Augusta
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- South Augusta is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Augusta
- Wever
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Denmark
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Muscatine County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakville, with the one closest to Oakville listed first.
- Fruitland
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Fruitland is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fruitland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 966 people
- Muscatine
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Fairport
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Fairport is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairport
- Conesville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Conesville is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conesville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 427 people
- Pine Mills ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Pine Mills is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Mills
- Midway Beach
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Midway Beach is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway Beach
- Nichols
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Nichols is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nichols
- Population from the 2020 Census: 358 people
- Pleasant Prairie
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Pleasant Prairie is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Prairie
- Scott County
- Buffalo
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakville, with the one closest to Oakville listed first.
- Crawfordsville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Ainsworth
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Henderson County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakville, with the one closest to Oakville listed first.
- Milroy
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Milroy is located in Henderson County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milroy
- Oquawka
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Rozetta
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Rozetta is located in Henderson County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rozetta
- Gladstone
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Gulf Port
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Gulf Port is located in Henderson County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gulf Port
- Population from the 2020 Census: 46 people
- Biggsville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Biggsville is located in Henderson County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Biggsville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 273 people
- Olena
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Olena is located in Henderson County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olena
- Carman
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Media
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Media is located in Henderson County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Media
- Population from the 2020 Census: 93 people
- Stronghurst
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Iowa Junction
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Iowa Junction is located in Henderson County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iowa Junction
- Lomax
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Lomax is located in Henderson County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lomax
- Population from the 2020 Census: 393 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lomax <1>
- Terre Haute
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Terre Haute is located in Henderson County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terre Haute
- Mercer County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakville, with the one closest to Oakville listed first.
- Keithsburg
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- New Boston
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Joy
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Joy is located in Mercer County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 377 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Joy <1>
- Mannon
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Mannon is located in Mercer County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mannon
- Seaton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Petersville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Petersville is located in Mercer County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petersville
- Eliza
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Eliza is located in Mercer County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eliza
- Sunbeam
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Sunbeam is located in Mercer County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunbeam
- Aledo
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Marston
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Marston is located in Mercer County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marston
- Burgess
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Burgess is located in Mercer County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burgess
- Norwood
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Norwood is located in Mercer County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwood
- Gilchrist
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Gilchrist is located in Mercer County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilchrist
- Rock Island County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakville, with the one closest to Oakville listed first.
- Buffalo Prairie
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Illinois City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Illinois City is located in Rock Island County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Illinois City
- Edgington
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Edgington is located in Rock Island County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgington
- Reynolds
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Taylor Ridge
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Andalusia
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Warren County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakville, with the one closest to Oakville listed first.
- Little York
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Eleanor
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Eleanor is located in Warren County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eleanor
- Kirkwood
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Gerlaw
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Monmouth
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Smithshire
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Shanghai City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Shanghai City is located in Warren County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shanghai City
- Utah
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Utah is located in Warren County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Utah
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Oakville, see our County-by-County Page for Oakville.
Cemeteries Near Oakville ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Oakville.
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 Oakville - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Oakville covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Oakville, with the one closest to Oakville listed first.
- Edwards Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Parson Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Memorial Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Smith Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Hawkeye Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Northfield Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Mallory Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Potter's Timber Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Round Prairie Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Dolbee Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Huron Island Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- New Boston Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (355 more) ...
- Old Swedish Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Keithsburg Greenmound Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- St. Mary's 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.<3>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Oakville had a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Oakville had a population of 168 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Oakville, with the one closest to Oakville listed first.
- Toolesboro
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Toolesboro is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toolesboro
- Northfield
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Northfield is located in Des Moines County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northfield
- Huron
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Huron is located in Des Moines County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huron
- Keithsburg
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- New Boston
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Kossuth
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Kossuth is located in Des Moines County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kossuth
- Newport
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Newport is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newport
- Mediapolis
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Kingston
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Kingston is located in Des Moines County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingston
- Milroy
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Milroy is located in Henderson County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milroy
- Ogle
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Ogle is located in Mercer County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ogle
- Wapello
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Wapello is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wapello
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,999 people
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Joy
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Joy is located in Mercer County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 377 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Joy <1>
- Mannon
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Mannon is located in Mercer County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mannon
- Morning Sun
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Oakville. See our List of 1890's Communities around Oakville.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Oakville ...
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 39 newspapers that have been published in the area around Oakville.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Oakville. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Oakville and those printed in the larger area surrounding Oakville.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<4> of Oakville.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to 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 Oakville:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Louisa County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Des Moines County
- Henry County
- Lee County
- Muscatine County
- Scott County
- Washington County
- Henderson County
- Mercer County
- Rock Island County
- Warren 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 Oakville, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Oakville) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |