Our Genealogy Helper
Introduction ...
So far, we found very little information about Palestine. The little that we've found leads us believe that the community is historic.<1>
We've added Palestine to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Palestine, please Contact Us.
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 Palestine (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 Palestine. 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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the east. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the north.
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 north 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.
Although our information shows that the community of Palestine is historic, it would have been located within present day Van Buren 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 Van Buren County: Davis, Henry, Jefferson, Lee, Clark (MO) & Scotland (MO).
Below are the counties that are near Palestine. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Palestine:
- Van Buren County (The home county of Palestine)
- The following are listed by their distance from Palestine, with the one closest to Palestine listed first.
- Bonaparte
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Farmington
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Mount Sterling
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Mount Zion
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Mount Zion is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Zion
- Keosauqua
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Stockport
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Kilbourn
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Kilbourn is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kilbourn
- Winchester
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Winchester is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winchester
- Birmingham
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Birmingham is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birmingham
- Population from the 2020 Census: 423 people
- Cantril
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Douds
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Douds is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Douds
- Leando
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Leando is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leando
- Davis County
- The following are listed by their distance from Palestine, with the one closest to Palestine listed first.
- Chequest
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Chequest is located in Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chequest
- Pulaski
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Pulaski is located in Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pulaski
- Population from the 2020 Census: 291 people
- Stiles
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Stiles is located in Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stiles
- Floris
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Floris is located in Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Floris
- Population from the 2020 Census: 143 people
- Des Moines County
- The following are listed by their distance from Palestine, with the one closest to Palestine listed first.
- Danville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Danville is located in Des Moines County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 896 people
- Middletown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Middletown is located in Des Moines County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middletown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 335 people
- Henry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Palestine, with the one closest to Palestine listed first.
- Hillsboro
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Hillsboro is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsboro
- Population from the 2020 Census: 173 people
- Salem
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Oakland Mills
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Oakland Mills is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland Mills
- Rome
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Rome is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rome
- Population from the 2020 Census: 117 people
- Lowell
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Lowell is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowell
- Westwood
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Westwood is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 107 people
- Mount Pleasant
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- New London
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Palestine, with the one closest to Palestine listed first.
- Glasgow
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Glasgow is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glasgow
- Lockridge
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Libertyville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Libertyville is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Libertyville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 341 people
- Fairfield
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Perlee
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Perlee is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perlee
- Maharishi Vedic City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Maharishi Vedic City is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maharishi Vedic City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,288 people
- Batavia
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Lee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Palestine, with the one closest to Palestine listed first.
- Big Mound
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Big Mound is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Mound
- Primrose
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Primrose is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Primrose
- Russellville ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Russellville is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russellville
- Russellville has also been known as:
- Doantown
- Croton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Croton is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Croton
- Mount Hamill
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Mount Hamill is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Hamill
- Former names for Mount Hamill:
- Courtwright
- Hamill
- White Lane ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- White Lane is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Lane
- Houghton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Houghton is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Houghton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 135 people
- Donnellson
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Franklin
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Franklin is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franklin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 132 people
- Pilot Grove
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Pilot Grove is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pilot Grove
- Saint Paul
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Saint Paul is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Paul
- Population from the 2020 Census: 123 people
- Charleston
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Charleston is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charleston
- Wapello County
- Eldon
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Hancock County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Palestine, with the one closest to Palestine listed first.
- Nauvoo
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Niota
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Powellton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Powellton is located in Hancock County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powellton
- Pontoosuc
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Pontoosuc is located in Hancock County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pontoosuc
- Population from the 2020 Census: 132 people
- Hamilton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Warsaw
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Clark County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Palestine, with the one closest to Palestine listed first.
- Acasto
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Acasto is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acasto
- Anson
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Anson is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anson
- Athens
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Athens is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Athens
- Chambersburg
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Chambersburg is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chambersburg
- Peaksville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Peaksville is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peaksville
- Dumas
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Dumas is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dumas
- Revere
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Luray
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Luray is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Luray
- Population from the 2020 Census: 94 people
- Medill
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Medill is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Medill
- Clark City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Clark City is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clark City
- Kahoka
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Saint Francisville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Saint Francisville is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Francisville
- Knox County (MO)
- Rutledge
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Scotland County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Palestine, with the one closest to Palestine listed first.
- Granger
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Granger is located in Scotland County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granger
- Population from the 2020 Census: 34 people
- Arbela
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Memphis
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Gorin
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Gorin is located in Scotland County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gorin
- South Gorin
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- South Gorin is located in Scotland County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Gorin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 93 people
- Kilwinning
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Kilwinning is located in Scotland County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kilwinning
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Palestine, see our County-by-County Page for Palestine.
Cemeteries Near Palestine ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Palestine.
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 Palestine - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Palestine covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Palestine, with the one closest to Palestine listed first.
- Bonaparte Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Cave Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Reed's Creek Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Chapman Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- New Lexington Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Neumann Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Helwig Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Rhodes Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Snyder Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- White Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Thomson Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Preen Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Continue List (480 more) ...
- Steinmeyer Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Boyer Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- McDaniel Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 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.
While we didn't find Palestine in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Palestine.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Palestine, with the one closest to Palestine listed first.
- Bonaparte
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Bentonsport
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Vernon
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Vernon is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vernon
- Farmington
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Acasto
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Acasto is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acasto
- Pierceville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Pierceville is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pierceville
- Big Mound
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Big Mound is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Mound
- Mount Sterling
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Utica
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Utica is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Utica
- Anson
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Anson is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anson
- Primrose
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Primrose is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Primrose
- Athens
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Athens is located in Clark County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Athens
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Croton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Croton is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Croton
- Mount Zion
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Mount Zion is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Zion
- Keosauqua
(9 miles [14.5 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 Palestine. See our List of 1890's Communities around Palestine.
Newspapers Published in Palestine ...
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 32 newspapers that have been published in the area around Palestine.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Palestine, 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 Palestine.
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 Palestine:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Van Buren County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Davis County
- Des Moines County
- Henry County
- Jefferson County
- Lee County
- Wapello County
- Hancock County
- Clark County
- Knox County
- Scotland County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Iowa
Footnotes ...
| <1> | 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 Palestine, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <2> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <3> | 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. |
| <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- Palestine) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |