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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 Old Town (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 Old Town. 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 hospitals and 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.

Old Town is located in Dickinson 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 Dickinson County: Clay, Emmet, Osceola & Jackson (MN).

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

  • Dickinson County     (The home county of Old Town)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Old Town, with the one closest to Old Town listed first.
    • Milford
      (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
    • West Okoboji
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
      • West Okoboji is located in Dickinson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Okoboji
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 303 people
    • Arnolds Park
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Wahpeton
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Wahpeton is located in Dickinson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wahpeton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 353 people
    • Okoboji
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Spirit Lake
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Terril
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Terril is located in Dickinson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terril
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 338 people
    • Orleans
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Orleans is located in Dickinson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orleans
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 591 people
    • Superior
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Lake Park
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Buena Vista County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Old Town, with the one closest to Old Town listed first.
    • Linn Grove
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Sioux Rapids
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
  • Clay County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Old Town, with the one closest to Old Town listed first.
    • Fostoria
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • Fostoria is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fostoria
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 219 people
    • Langdon
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Langdon is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langdon
    • Spencer
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Dickens
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Dickens is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dickens
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 168 people
    • Everly
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Everly is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Everly
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 541 people
    • Royal
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Greenville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Rossie
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Rossie is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rossie
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 67 people
    • Gillett Grove
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Gillett Grove is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gillett Grove
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 47 people
    • Cornell
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Cornell is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornell
    • Webb
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Webb is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webb
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 126 people
    • Peterson
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
  • Emmet County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Old Town, with the one closest to Old Town listed first.
    • Estherville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Wallingford
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Wallingford is located in Emmet County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wallingford
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 168 people
    • Gruver
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Gruver is located in Emmet County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gruver
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 82 people
    • Hoprig
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Hoprig is located in Emmet County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoprig
    • Dolliver
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
  • O'Brien County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Old Town, with the one closest to Old Town listed first.
    • Moneta
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Moneta is located in O'Brien County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moneta
    • Hartley
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Hartley is located in O'Brien County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,556 people
    • Sanborn
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Primghar
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Sutherland
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Osceola County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Old Town, with the one closest to Old Town listed first.
    • May City
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • May City is located in Osceola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for May City
    • Harris
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Harris is located in Osceola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 158 people
    • Ocheyedan
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Ocheyedan is located in Osceola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ocheyedan
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 463 people
    • Melvin
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Melvin is located in Osceola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melvin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 197 people
    • Allendorf
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Allendorf is located in Osceola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allendorf
    • Cloverdale
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Cloverdale is located in Osceola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cloverdale
    • Sibley
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Palo Alto County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Old Town, with the one closest to Old Town listed first.
    • Ruthven
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Graettinger
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Ayrshire
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Emmetsburg
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Curlew
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Curlew is located in Palo Alto County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curlew
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 55 people
  • Jackson County (MN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Old Town, with the one closest to Old Town listed first.
    • Sioux Valley
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Sioux Valley is located in Jackson County (MN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sioux Valley
    • Petersburg
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Petersburg is located in Jackson County (MN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petersburg
    • Jackson
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Jackson is located in Jackson County (MN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jackson
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,151 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Jackson <1>
    • Lakefield
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Alpha
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Alpha is located in Jackson County (MN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alpha
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 119 people
    • Okabena
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Okabena is located in Jackson County (MN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Okabena
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 195 people
  • Martin County (MN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Old Town, with the one closest to Old Town listed first.
    • Dunnell
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Dunnell is located in Martin County (MN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunnell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 145 people
    • Ceylon
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Ceylon is located in Martin County (MN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ceylon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 337 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ceylon <1>
  • Nobles County (MN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Old Town, with the one closest to Old Town listed first.
    • Round Lake
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Bigelow
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Bigelow is located in Nobles County (MN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bigelow
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 226 people

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

Cemeteries Near Old Town ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Old Town.

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 Old Town - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Milford Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • St. Joseph Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Little Sioux Lutheran Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Rose Hill Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Richland Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Lake View Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Lakeland Memory Gardens Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Excelsior Twp. Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • First Reformed Church Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Evergreen Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Fairview Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
  • St. Margaret Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (107 more) ...
    • Westport Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • North Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Fairview Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview Cemetery
      • To give a relative sense of its location, the Fairview Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located less than 2 miles<3> to the east of Terril.
      • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #94754 <2>

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>

While we didn't find Old Town in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Old Town.

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

  • Milford
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Arnolds Park
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Okoboji
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Spirit Lake
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Spencer
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
  • Superior
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Everly
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Everly is located in Clay County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Everly
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 541 people
  • Dickens
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Dickens is located in Clay County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dickens
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 168 people
  • Lake Park
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Estherville
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
  • May City
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • May City is located in Osceola County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for May City
  • Sioux Valley
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Sioux Valley is located in Jackson County (MN)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sioux Valley
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Wallingford
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Wallingford is located in Emmet County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wallingford
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 168 people
    • Harris
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Harris is located in Osceola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 158 people
    • Hartley
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Hartley is located in O'Brien County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,556 people

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

Newspapers Published in Old Town ...

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 106 newspapers that have been published in the area around Old Town.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Old Town, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Old Town.

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 Old Town:

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 '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- Old Town) 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 Old Town, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.