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 Peoria (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 Peoria. 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 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.
Peoria is located in Wayne 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 Wayne County: Appanoose, Decatur, Lucas, Mercer (MO) & Putnam (MO).
Below are the counties that are near Peoria. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Peoria:
- Wayne County (The home county of Peoria)
- The following are listed by their distance from Peoria, with the one closest to Peoria listed first.
- Corydon
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Millerton
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Millerton is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millerton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 42 people
- Allerton
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Hodge
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Hodge is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hodge
- Humeston
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Clio
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Clio is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clio
- Population from the 2020 Census: 73 people
- Promise City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Promise City is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Promise City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 110 people
- Confidence
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Confidence is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Confidence
- Seymour
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Lineville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Lineville is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lineville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 217 people
- Genoa
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Genoa is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Genoa
- Appanoose County
- The following are listed by their distance from Peoria, with the one closest to Peoria listed first.
- Plano
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Jerome
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Jerome is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jerome
- Numa
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Numa is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Numa
- Population from the 2020 Census: 89 people
- Brazil
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Brazil is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brazil
- Mystic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Mystic is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mystic
- Population from the 2020 Census: 410 people
- Walnut City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Walnut City is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut City
- Iconium
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Iconium is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iconium
- Sunshine
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Sunshine is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunshine
- Clarkdale
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Clarkdale is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarkdale
- Rathbun
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Rathbun is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rathbun
- Population from the 2020 Census: 72 people
- Cincinnati
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Cincinnati is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cincinnati
- Population from the 2020 Census: 345 people
- Centerville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Clarke County
- The following are listed by their distance from Peoria, with the one closest to Peoria listed first.
- Woodburn
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Weldon
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Weldon is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weldon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 104 people
- Green Bay ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Green Bay is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Bay
- Osceola
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Lacelle
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Lacelle is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacelle
- Liberty
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Liberty is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty
- Decatur County
- The following are listed by their distance from Peoria, with the one closest to Peoria listed first.
- Garden Grove
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Garden Grove is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 200 people
- Le Roy
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Le Roy is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Le Roy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 14 people
- Woodland
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Woodland is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland
- Morgan
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Morgan is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan
- Leon
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Van Wert
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Van Wert is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Van Wert
- Population from the 2020 Census: 208 people
- Pleasanton
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Pleasanton is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasanton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 44 people
- Davis City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Davis City is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 187 people
- Decatur City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Decatur City is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Decatur City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 181 people
- Grand River
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Grand River is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grand River
- Population from the 2020 Census: 215 people
- Lucas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Peoria, with the one closest to Peoria listed first.
- Derby
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Derby is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Derby
- Population from the 2020 Census: 111 people
- Chariton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Russell
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Lucas
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Lucas is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucas
- Population from the 2020 Census: 207 people
- Zero
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Zero is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zero
- Williamson
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Olmitz
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Olmitz is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olmitz
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Peoria, with the one closest to Peoria listed first.
- Newbern
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Newbern is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newbern
- Bauer
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Bauer is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bauer
- Columbia
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Columbia is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbia
- Monroe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Peoria, with the one closest to Peoria listed first.
- Melrose
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Georgetown
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Georgetown is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgetown
- Warren County
- The following are listed by their distance from Peoria, with the one closest to Peoria listed first.
- Lacona
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Liberty Center
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Liberty Center is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty Center
- Harrison County (MO)
- Akron
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Akron is located in Harrison County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Akron
- Mercer County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Peoria, with the one closest to Peoria listed first.
- South Lineville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- South Lineville is located in Mercer County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Lineville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 27 people
- Mercer
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Ravanna
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Ravanna is located in Mercer County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ravanna
- Burrows
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Burrows is located in Mercer County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burrows
- Princeton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Putnam County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Peoria, with the one closest to Peoria listed first.
- Powersville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Powersville is located in Putnam County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powersville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 54 people
- Saint John
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Saint John is located in Putnam County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint John
- Lucerne
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Lucerne is located in Putnam County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucerne
- Population from the 2020 Census: 80 people
- Pearl City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Pearl City is located in Putnam County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pearl City
- Unionville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Mendota
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Mendota is located in Putnam County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mendota
- Sullivan County (MO)
- Newtown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Peoria, see our County-by-County Page for Peoria.
Cemeteries Near Peoria ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Peoria.
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 Peoria - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Peoria covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Peoria, with the one closest to Peoria listed first.
- Greenlee Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Rush Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Hogue Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Hazel Dell Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Corydon Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Kirby Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Cambria Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Allerton Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Higley Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Rankin Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Sharon Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Woods Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Continue List (329 more) ...
- Woods Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Greenridge Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Richardson Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 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.<2>
While we didn't find Peoria in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Peoria.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Peoria, with the one closest to Peoria listed first.
- Corydon
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Saxon
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Saxon is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saxon
- Cambria
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Cambria is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cambria
- Allerton
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Ovia
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Ovia is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ovia
- Hodge
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Hodge is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hodge
- Bridgeport
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Bridgeport is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgeport
- New York
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- New York is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New York
- Harvard
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Harvard is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harvard
- Humeston
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Big Spring ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Big Spring is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Spring
- Clio
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Clio is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clio
- Population from the 2020 Census: 73 people
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Sewal
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Sewal is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sewal
- Derby
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Derby is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Derby
- Population from the 2020 Census: 111 people
- High Point
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- High Point is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High Point
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Peoria. See our List of 1890's Communities around Peoria.
Newspapers Published in Peoria ...
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 133 newspapers that have been published in the area around Peoria.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Peoria, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Peoria.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These helpful 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 Peoria:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Wayne County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Appanoose County
- Clarke County
- Decatur County
- Lucas County
- Marion County
- Monroe County
- Warren County
- Harrison County
- Mercer County
- Putnam 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> | 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 Peoria, 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' (or 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- Peoria) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |