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 Orleans (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 Orleans. 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.
Orleans is located in Appanoose 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 Appanoose County: Davis, Lucas, Monroe, Wapello, Wayne, Putnam (MO) & Schuyler (MO).
Below are the counties that are near Orleans. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Orleans:
- Appanoose County (The home county of Orleans)
- The following are listed by their distance from Orleans, with the one closest to Orleans listed first.
- Moulton
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Moulton is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moulton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 580 people
- Udell
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Udell is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Udell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 44 people
- Unionville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Coal City
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Coal City is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coal City
- Exline
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Exline is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Exline
- Population from the 2020 Census: 154 people
- Centerville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Darbyville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Darbyville is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darbyville
- Rathbun
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Rathbun is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rathbun
- Population from the 2020 Census: 72 people
- Clarkdale
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Clarkdale is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarkdale
- Moravia
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Sunshine
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Sunshine is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunshine
- Brazil
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Brazil is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brazil
- Davis County
- The following are listed by their distance from Orleans, with the one closest to Orleans listed first.
- West Grove
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- West Grove is located in Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Grove
- Paris
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Paris is located in Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paris
- Mark
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Mark is located in Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mark
- Drakesville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Bloomfield
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Savannah
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Savannah is located in Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Savannah
- Steuben
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Steuben is located in Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steuben
- Stiles
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Stiles is located in Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stiles
- Carbon
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Carbon is located in Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carbon
- Floris
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Floris is located in Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Floris
- Population from the 2020 Census: 143 people
- Pulaski
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Pulaski is located in Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pulaski
- Population from the 2020 Census: 291 people
- Chequest
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Chequest is located in Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chequest
- Lucas County
- Zero
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Zero is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zero
- Monroe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Orleans, with the one closest to Orleans listed first.
- Selection
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Selection is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Selection
- Albia
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Avery
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Avery is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avery
- Georgetown
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Georgetown is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgetown
- Melrose
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Bluff Creek
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Bluff Creek is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff Creek
- Van Buren County
- The following are listed by their distance from Orleans, with the one closest to Orleans listed first.
- Milton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Selma
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Selma is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Selma
- Douds
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Douds is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Douds
- Leando
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Leando is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leando
- Wapello County
- The following are listed by their distance from Orleans, with the one closest to Orleans listed first.
- Blakesburg
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Bidwell
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Bidwell is located in Wapello County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bidwell
- Cliffland
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Cliffland is located in Wapello County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cliffland
- Ottumwa
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- East Ottumwa
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- East Ottumwa is located in Wapello County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Ottumwa
- Chillicothe
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Chillicothe is located in Wapello County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chillicothe
- Population from the 2020 Census: 97 people
- Dudley
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Dudley is located in Wapello County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dudley
- Keb ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Keb is located in Wapello County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keb
- Agency
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Eldon
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Dahlonega
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Dahlonega is located in Wapello County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dahlonega
- Eddyville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Wayne County
- The following are listed by their distance from Orleans, with the one closest to Orleans listed first.
- Seymour
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Genoa
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Genoa is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Genoa
- Promise City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Promise City is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Promise City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 110 people
- Confidence
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Confidence is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Confidence
- Putnam County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Orleans, with the one closest to Orleans listed first.
- Livonia
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Livonia is located in Putnam County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Livonia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 71 people
- Mendota
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Mendota is located in Putnam County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mendota
- Pearl City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Pearl City is located in Putnam County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pearl City
- Worthington
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Worthington is located in Putnam County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Worthington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 76 people
- Unionville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Saint John
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Saint John is located in Putnam County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint John
- Schuyler County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Orleans, with the one closest to Orleans listed first.
- Coatsville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Coatsville is located in Schuyler County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coatsville
- Glenwood
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Glenwood is located in Schuyler County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 201 people
- Lancaster
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Julesburg
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Julesburg is located in Schuyler County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Julesburg
- Queen City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Queen City is located in Schuyler County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Queen City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 607 people
- Clifton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Clifton is located in Schuyler County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifton
- Downing
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Downing is located in Schuyler County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Downing
- Population from the 2020 Census: 341 people
- Greentop
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Scotland County (MO)
- Kilwinning
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Kilwinning is located in Scotland County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kilwinning
- Sullivan County (MO)
- Pennville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Pennville is located in Sullivan County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pennville
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Orleans, see our County-by-County Page for Orleans.
Cemeteries Near Orleans ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Orleans.
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 Orleans - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Orleans covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Orleans, with the one closest to Orleans listed first.
- Orleans Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Hardin Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Sunnyview Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Hetzler Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Shinn Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Bell Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- John Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Pelly Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Oakland Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Evergreen Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Otterbein South Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Otterbien Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Continue List (426 more) ...
- Fairview Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Paris Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Croft Cemetery
(5 miles [8 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.<3>
While we didn't find Orleans in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Orleans.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Orleans, with the one closest to Orleans listed first.
- Moulton
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Moulton is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moulton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 580 people
- West Grove
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- West Grove is located in Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Grove
- Paris
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Paris is located in Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paris
- Udell
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Udell is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Udell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 44 people
- Unionville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Monterey
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Monterey is located in Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monterey
- Dean
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Dean is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dean
- Mark
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Mark is located in Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mark
- Coatsville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Coatsville is located in Schuyler County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coatsville
- Sedan
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Sedan is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sedan
- Drakesville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Exline
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Exline is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Exline
- Population from the 2020 Census: 154 people
- Continue List (19 more) ...
- Forbush
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Forbush is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forbush
- Centerville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Chariton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Chariton is located in Putnam County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chariton
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Orleans. See our List of 1890's Communities around Orleans.
Newspapers Published in Orleans ...
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 80 newspapers that have been published in the area around Orleans.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Orleans, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Orleans.
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 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 Orleans:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Appanoose County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Davis County
- Lucas County
- Monroe County
- Van Buren County
- Wapello County
- Wayne County
- Putnam County
- Schuyler County
- Scotland County
- Sullivan 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 Orleans, 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 from Point A (ie- Orleans) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |