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 Orange (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 Orange. 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.
Orange is located in Black Hawk 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 Black Hawk County: Benton, Bremer, Buchanan, Butler, Fayette, Grundy & Tama.
Below are the counties that are near Orange. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Orange:
- Black Hawk County (The home county of Orange)
- The following are listed by their distance from Orange, with the one closest to Orange listed first.
- Waterloo
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Evansdale
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Eagle Center
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Eagle Center is located in Black Hawk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagle Center
- Hudson
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Elk Run Heights
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Elk Run Heights is located in Black Hawk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elk Run Heights
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,135 people
- Gilbertville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Gilbertville is located in Black Hawk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilbertville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 725 people
- Raymond
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Raymond is located in Black Hawk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raymond
- Population from the 2020 Census: 788 people
- Cedar Falls
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Voorhies
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Voorhies is located in Black Hawk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Voorhies
- Dewar
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Dewar is located in Black Hawk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dewar
- Cedar City
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Cedar City is located in Black Hawk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar City
- Blessing
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Blessing is located in Black Hawk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blessing
- Benton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Orange, with the one closest to Orange listed first.
- Mount Auburn
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Mount Auburn is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Auburn
- Population from the 2020 Census: 144 people
- Garrison
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Garrison is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garrison
- Population from the 2020 Census: 355 people
- Vinton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Spencers Grove
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Spencers Grove is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spencers Grove
- Urbana
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Benton City ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Benton City is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton City
- Keystone
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Bremer County
- The following are listed by their distance from Orange, with the one closest to Orange listed first.
- Denver
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Klinger
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Klinger is located in Bremer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Klinger
- Knittel
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Knittel is located in Bremer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knittel
- Readlyn
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Waverly
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Bremer
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Bremer is located in Bremer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bremer
- Tripoli
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Seigel
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Seigel is located in Bremer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seigel
- Horton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Horton is located in Bremer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horton
- Plainfield
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Buchanan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Orange, with the one closest to Orange listed first.
- Shady Grove
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Shady Grove is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shady Grove
- Brandon
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Brandon is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brandon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 320 people
- Fairbank
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Independence
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Hamerville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Hamerville is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamerville
- Rowley
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Hazleton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Doris
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Doris is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doris
- Quasqueton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Butler County
- The following are listed by their distance from Orange, with the one closest to Orange listed first.
- New Hartford
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Sinclair
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Sinclair is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sinclair
- Shell Rock
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Parkersburg
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Coster
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Coster is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coster
- Butler Center
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Butler Center is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butler Center
- Aplington
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Clarksville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Fayette County
- The following are listed by their distance from Orange, with the one closest to Orange listed first.
- Oran
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Oran is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oran
- Oelwein
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Westgate
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Westgate is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westgate
- Population from the 2020 Census: 209 people
- Grundy County
- The following are listed by their distance from Orange, with the one closest to Orange listed first.
- Fredsville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Fredsville is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fredsville
- Reinbeck
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Dike
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Morrison
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Stout
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Stout is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stout
- Population from the 2020 Census: 214 people
- Fern
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Fern is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fern
- Grundy Center
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Holland
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Buck Grove
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Buck Grove is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buck Grove
- Beaman
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Beaman is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 183 people
- Wellsburg
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Conrad
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Linn County
- Walker
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Walker is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walker
- Population from the 2020 Census: 782 people
- Tama County
- The following are listed by their distance from Orange, with the one closest to Orange listed first.
- Dinsdale
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Dinsdale is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dinsdale
- Buckingham
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Buckingham is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckingham
- Dysart
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Traer
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Lincoln
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Lincoln is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lincoln
- Population from the 2020 Census: 148 people
- Clutier
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Gladbrook
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Garwin
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Garwin is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garwin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 490 people
- Elberon
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Vining
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Vining is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vining
- Population from the 2020 Census: 49 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Orange, see our County-by-County Page for Orange.
Cemeteries Near Orange ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Orange.
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 Orange - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Orange covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Orange, with the one closest to Orange listed first.
- Orange Twp. Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Waterloo Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Waterloo Memorial Park
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Turner Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Mt. Olivet Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mt. Olivet Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Mt. Olivet Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the southwest of Waterloo.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1262931 <2>
- Elmwood Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmwood Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Elmwood Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the west of Waterloo.
- The Elmwood Cemetery has also been known as:
- Waterloo Elmwood Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #94674 <2>
- Washburn Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Hudson Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Eagle Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Hillcrest Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Muslim Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Sons of Jacob Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (256 more) ...
- Fairview Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Calvary Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Poyner Twp. 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>
While we didn't find Orange in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Orange.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Orange, with the one closest to Orange listed first.
- Washburn
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Waterloo
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Hudson
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Eagle Center
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Eagle Center is located in Black Hawk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagle Center
- Gilbertville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Gilbertville is located in Black Hawk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilbertville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 725 people
- Raymond
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Raymond is located in Black Hawk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raymond
- Population from the 2020 Census: 788 people
- Cedar Falls
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Dewar
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Dewar is located in Black Hawk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dewar
- La Porte City
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Edwards ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Edwards is located in Black Hawk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edwards
- Fredsville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Fredsville is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fredsville
- Mooreville ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Mooreville is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mooreville
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Canfield
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Canfield is located in Black Hawk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canfield
- Jubilee
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Jubilee is located in Black Hawk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jubilee
- Dunkerton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Dunkerton is located in Black Hawk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunkerton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 851 people
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Orange. See our List of 1890's Communities around Orange.
Newspapers Published in Orange ...
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 154 newspapers that have been published in the area around Orange.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Orange, 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 Orange.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we begin with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These professional and volunteer 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 Orange:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Black Hawk County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Benton County
- Bremer County
- Buchanan County
- Butler County
- Fayette County
- Grundy County
- Linn County
- Tama 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 Orange, 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- Orange) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |