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 Otranto (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 Otranto. 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 doctors and hospitals 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.
Otranto is located in Mitchell 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 Mitchell County: Cerro Gordo, Floyd, Howard, Worth & Mower (MN).
Below are the counties that are near Otranto. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Otranto:
- Mitchell County (The home county of Otranto)
- The following are listed by their distance from Otranto, with the one closest to Otranto listed first.
- Carpenter
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Carpenter is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carpenter
- Population from the 2020 Census: 108 people
- Toeterville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Saint Ansgar
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Stacyville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Stacyville is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stacyville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 466 people
- Mitchell
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Mitchell is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mitchell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 128 people
- Little Cedar
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Little Cedar is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Cedar
- Meyer
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Meyer is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meyer
- Osage
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Rock Creek
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Rock Creek is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Creek
- McIntire
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- McIntire is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McIntire
- Population from the 2020 Census: 127 people
- Orchard
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Orchard is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orchard
- Population from the 2020 Census: 71 people
- New Haven
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- New Haven is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Haven
- Cerro Gordo County
- The following are listed by their distance from Otranto, with the one closest to Otranto listed first.
- Plymouth
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Plymouth is located in Cerro Gordo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plymouth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 361 people
- Plymouth Junction
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Plymouth Junction is located in Cerro Gordo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plymouth Junction
- Rock Falls
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Rock Falls is located in Cerro Gordo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Falls
- Population from the 2020 Census: 146 people
- Portland
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Portland is located in Cerro Gordo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Portland
- Creamery
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Creamery is located in Cerro Gordo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creamery
- Mason City
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Mason City Junction
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Mason City Junction is located in Cerro Gordo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mason City Junction
- Cameron
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Cameron is located in Cerro Gordo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cameron
- Clear Lake
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Burchinal
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Burchinal is located in Cerro Gordo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burchinal
- Floyd County
- The following are listed by their distance from Otranto, with the one closest to Otranto listed first.
- Nora Springs
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Rudd
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Floyd
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Rockford
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Colwell
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Howard County
- Riceville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Winnebago County
- Lake Mills
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Worth County
- The following are listed by their distance from Otranto, with the one closest to Otranto listed first.
- Bolan
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Bolan is located in Worth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolan
- Grafton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Northwood
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Kensett
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Kensett is located in Worth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kensett
- Population from the 2020 Census: 249 people
- Manly
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Silver Lake
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Silver Lake is located in Worth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Lake
- Hanlontown
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Hanlontown is located in Worth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanlontown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
- Bristol
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Bristol is located in Worth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bristol
- Joice
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Joice is located in Worth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joice
- Population from the 2020 Census: 209 people
- Fertile
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Dodge County (MN)
- Hayfield
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Fillmore County (MN)
- Ostrander
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Freeborn County (MN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Otranto, with the one closest to Otranto listed first.
- London
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- London is located in Freeborn County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for London
- Myrtle
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Myrtle is located in Freeborn County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myrtle
- Population from the 2020 Census: 46 people
- Oakland
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Oakland is located in Freeborn County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland
- Glenville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Hayward
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Albert Lea
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Hollandale
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Twin Lakes
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Twin Lakes is located in Freeborn County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin Lakes
- Population from the 2020 Census: 149 people
- Emmons
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Emmons is located in Freeborn County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emmons
- Population from the 2020 Census: 380 people
- Clarks Grove
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Geneva
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Manchester
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Manchester is located in Freeborn County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manchester
- Population from the 2020 Census: 55 people
- Conger
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Conger is located in Freeborn County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conger
- Population from the 2020 Census: 144 people
- Mower County (MN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Otranto, with the one closest to Otranto listed first.
- Lyle
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Varco
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Varco is located in Mower County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Varco
- Johnsburg
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Johnsburg is located in Mower County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnsburg
- Rose Creek
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Austin
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Adams
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Mapleview
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Mapleview is located in Mower County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mapleview
- Population from the 2020 Census: 177 people
- Taopi
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Taopi is located in Mower County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taopi
- Population from the 2020 Census: 65 people
- Lansing
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Lansing is located in Mower County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lansing
- Elkton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Elkton is located in Mower County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 148 people
- Brownsdale
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Dexter
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Renova ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Renova is located in Mower County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Renova
- Steele County (MN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Otranto, with the one closest to Otranto listed first.
- Blooming Prairie
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Union
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Union is located in Steele County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Otranto, see our County-by-County Page for Otranto.
Cemeteries Near Otranto ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Otranto.
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 Otranto - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Otranto covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Otranto, with the one closest to Otranto listed first.
- Ogden Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Deer Creek Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- NE Lutheran Congregational Carpenter Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Rustad Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Pleasant Hill Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Farley Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Woodbury Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Priem Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- St. Peter Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- McKinley Cemetery
- The McKinley Cemetery is located on private property - be sure to secure permission before visiting.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McKinley Cemetery
- The McKinley Cemetery has also been known as:
- Newburg Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2143143 <2>
- Birdsal Family Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Blakestad Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Continue List (202 more) ...
- Immanuel Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- First Lutheran Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- St. Ansgar 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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Otranto had a population of 53 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Otranto, with the one closest to Otranto listed first.
- Meltonville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Meltonville is located in Worth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meltonville
- Mona
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Mona is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mona
- Carpenter
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Carpenter is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carpenter
- Population from the 2020 Census: 108 people
- Lyle
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Saint Ansgar
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- London
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- London is located in Freeborn County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for London
- Deer Creek
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Deer Creek is located in Worth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deer Creek
- Bolan
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Bolan is located in Worth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolan
- Grafton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Stacyville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Stacyville is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stacyville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 466 people
- Varco
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Varco is located in Mower County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Varco
- Mitchell
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Mitchell is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mitchell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 128 people
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Johnsburg
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Johnsburg is located in Mower County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnsburg
- Myrtle
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Myrtle is located in Freeborn County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myrtle
- Population from the 2020 Census: 46 people
- Northwood
(11 miles [17.7 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 Otranto. See our List of 1890's Communities around Otranto.
Newspapers Published in Otranto ...
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 115 newspapers that have been published in the area around Otranto.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Otranto, 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 Otranto.
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 Otranto:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Mitchell County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cerro Gordo County
- Floyd County
- Howard County
- Winnebago County
- Worth County
- Dodge County
- Fillmore County
- Freeborn County
- Mower County
- Steele 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 Otranto, 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' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Otranto) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |