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 Paralta (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 Paralta. 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 northwest 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 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 west 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.
Paralta is located in Linn 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 Linn County: Benton, Buchanan, Cedar, Delaware, Iowa, Johnson & Jones.
Below are the counties that are near Paralta. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Paralta:
- Linn County (The home county of Paralta)
- The following are listed by their distance from Paralta, with the one closest to Paralta listed first.
- Springville
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Viola
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Viola is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Viola
- Squaw Creek Village
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Squaw Creek Village is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Squaw Creek Village
- Mount Vernon
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Bertram
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Bertram is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bertram
- Population from the 2020 Census: 278 people
- Marion
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Lisbon
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Louisa
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Louisa is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Louisa
- Sunset Village
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Sunset Village is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunset Village
- Central City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Alburnett
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Cedar Rapids
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Hiawatha
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Benton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Paralta, with the one closest to Paralta listed first.
- Atkins
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Shellsburg
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Urbana
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Benton City ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Benton City is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton City
- Norway
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Spencers Grove
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Spencers Grove is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spencers Grove
- Newhall
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Watkins
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Watkins is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watkins
- Vinton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Buchanan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Paralta, with the one closest to Paralta listed first.
- Monti
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Monti is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monti
- Quasqueton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Hamerville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Hamerville is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamerville
- Cedar County
- The following are listed by their distance from Paralta, with the one closest to Paralta listed first.
- Mechanicsville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Mechanicsville is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mechanicsville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,116 people
- Stanwood
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Cedar Bluff
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Cedar Bluff is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Bluff
- Buchanan
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Buchanan is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buchanan
- Clarence
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Cedar Valley
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Cedar Valley is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Valley
- Tipton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- West Branch
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Springdale
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Springdale is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springdale
- Centerdale
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Centerdale is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerdale
- Rochester
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Rochester is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rochester
- Downey
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Downey is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Downey
- Lowden
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Delaware County
- The following are listed by their distance from Paralta, with the one closest to Paralta listed first.
- Ehler
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Ehler is located in Delaware County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ehler
- Robinson
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Robinson is located in Delaware County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robinson
- Ryan
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Hopkinton
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Golden
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Golden is located in Delaware County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Golden
- Delhi
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Delaware
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Delaware is located in Delaware County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delaware
- Population from the 2020 Census: 149 people
- Rockville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Rockville is located in Delaware County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockville
- Dubuque County
- The following are listed by their distance from Paralta, with the one closest to Paralta listed first.
- Cascade
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Worthington
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Worthington is located in Dubuque County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Worthington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 395 people
- Iowa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Paralta, with the one closest to Paralta listed first.
- Amana
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Middle Amana
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- West Amana
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- West Amana is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Amana
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Paralta, with the one closest to Paralta listed first.
- Canton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Canton is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canton
- Monmouth
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Monmouth is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monmouth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 154 people
- Baldwin
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Johnson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Paralta, with the one closest to Paralta listed first.
- Solon
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Shueyville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Shueyville is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shueyville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 655 people
- Cou Falls
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Cou Falls is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cou Falls
- Swisher
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Morse
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Morse is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morse
- Elmira
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Elmira is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmira
- North Liberty
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Oasis
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Oasis is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oasis
- Oakdale
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Oakdale is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakdale
- Coralville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Tiffin
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Iowa City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- University Heights
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- University Heights is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for University Heights
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,025 people
- Jones County
- The following are listed by their distance from Paralta, with the one closest to Paralta listed first.
- Martelle
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Martelle is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martelle
- Population from the 2020 Census: 246 people
- Fairview
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Fairview is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
- Stone City
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Stone City is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stone City
- Anamosa
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Morley
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Morley is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 110 people
- Olin
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Amber
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Amber is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amber
- Langworthy
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Langworthy is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langworthy
- Argand
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Argand is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argand
- Center Junction
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Center Junction is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Center Junction
- Estimated population in 2015: 111 people
- Hale
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Hale is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hale
- Monticello
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Onslow
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Paralta, see our County-by-County Page for Paralta.
Cemeteries Near Paralta ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Paralta.
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 Paralta - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Paralta covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Paralta, with the one closest to Paralta listed first.
- Paralta Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- St. Isdore Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Springville Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Linn Grove Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Mt. Zion Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Crabapple Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Martin Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Whittier Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Norwich Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Hopewell Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Wilcox Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Campbell Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (302 more) ...
- Abbe Creek Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Gillilan Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Craig Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
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.<2>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Paralta had a population of 33 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Paralta, with the one closest to Paralta listed first.
- Springville
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Martelle
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Martelle is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martelle
- Population from the 2020 Census: 246 people
- Viola
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Viola is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Viola
- Fairview
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Fairview is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
- Bertram
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Bertram is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bertram
- Population from the 2020 Census: 278 people
- Mount Vernon
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Stone City
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Stone City is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stone City
- Marion
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Lisbon
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Anamosa
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Waubeek
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Waubeek is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waubeek
- Morley
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Morley is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 110 people
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- East Rapids
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- East Rapids is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Rapids
- Louisa
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Louisa is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Louisa
- Cedar Rapids
(12 miles [19.3 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 Paralta. See our List of 1890's Communities around Paralta.
Newspapers Published in Paralta ...
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 105 newspapers that have been published in the area around Paralta.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Paralta, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Paralta.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These websites either 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 Paralta:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Linn County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Benton County
- Buchanan County
- Cedar County
- Delaware County
- Dubuque County
- Iowa County
- Jackson County
- Johnson County
- Jones 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> | 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 Paralta, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Paralta) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |