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 Plainfield (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 Plainfield. 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 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.
Plainfield is located in Bremer 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 Bremer County: Black Hawk, Buchanan, Butler, Chickasaw, Fayette & Floyd.
Below are the counties that are near Plainfield. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Plainfield:
- Bremer County (The home county of Plainfield)
- The following are listed by their distance from Plainfield, with the one closest to Plainfield listed first.
- Horton
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Horton is located in Bremer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horton
- Waverly
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Bremer
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Bremer is located in Bremer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bremer
- Seigel
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Seigel is located in Bremer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seigel
- Frederika
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Frederika is located in Bremer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frederika
- Population from the 2020 Census: 205 people
- Tripoli
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Denver
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Knittel
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Knittel is located in Bremer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knittel
- Readlyn
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Klinger
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Klinger is located in Bremer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Klinger
- Sumner
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Black Hawk County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plainfield, with the one closest to Plainfield listed first.
- Finchford
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Finchford is located in Black Hawk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Finchford
- Janesville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- North Cedar
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- North Cedar is located in Black Hawk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Cedar
- Cedar City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Cedar City is located in Black Hawk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar City
- Cedar Falls
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Edwards ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Edwards is located in Black Hawk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edwards
- Dunkerton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Dunkerton is located in Black Hawk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunkerton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 851 people
- Waterloo
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Dewar
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Dewar is located in Black Hawk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dewar
- Evansdale
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Elk Run Heights
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Elk Run Heights is located in Black Hawk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elk Run Heights
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,135 people
- Hudson
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Buchanan County
- Fairbank
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Butler County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plainfield, with the one closest to Plainfield listed first.
- Clarksville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Shell Rock
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Greene
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Allison
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Coster
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Coster is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coster
- Butler Center
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Butler Center is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butler Center
- New Hartford
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Bristow
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Bristow is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bristow
- Population from the 2020 Census: 147 people
- Kesley
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Kesley is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kesley
- Parkersburg
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Aredale
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Dumont
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Cerro Gordo County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plainfield, with the one closest to Plainfield listed first.
- Dougherty
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Dougherty is located in Cerro Gordo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dougherty
- Population from the 2020 Census: 56 people
- Cartersville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Cartersville is located in Cerro Gordo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cartersville
- Chickasaw County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plainfield, with the one closest to Plainfield listed first.
- Nashua
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Bradford
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Bradford is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradford
- Republic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Republic is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Republic
- Chickasaw
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Chickasaw is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chickasaw
- Ionia
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Bassett
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Bassett is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bassett
- Population from the 2020 Census: 62 people
- New Hampton
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Fredericksburg
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- North Washington
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- North Washington is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Washington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 137 people
- Deerfield
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Deerfield is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deerfield
- Lawler
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Alta Vista
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Fayette County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plainfield, with the one closest to Plainfield listed first.
- Oran
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Oran is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oran
- Alpha
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Alpha is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alpha
- Westgate
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Westgate is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westgate
- Population from the 2020 Census: 209 people
- Waucoma
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Hawkeye
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Hawkeye is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawkeye
- Population from the 2020 Census: 399 people
- Floyd County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plainfield, with the one closest to Plainfield listed first.
- Carrville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Carrville is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carrville
- Charles City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Oakwood
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Oakwood is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood
- Roseville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Roseville is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roseville
- Marble Rock
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Aureola
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Aureola is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aureola
- Colwell
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Floyd
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Rockford
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Rudd
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Franklin County
- Hansell
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Grundy County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plainfield, with the one closest to Plainfield listed first.
- Stout
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Stout is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stout
- Population from the 2020 Census: 214 people
- Fredsville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Fredsville is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fredsville
- Dike
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Buck Grove
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Buck Grove is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buck Grove
- Fern
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Fern is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fern
- Howard County
- Elma
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Mitchell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plainfield, with the one closest to Plainfield listed first.
- Orchard
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Orchard is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orchard
- Population from the 2020 Census: 71 people
- New Haven
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- New Haven is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Haven
- Winneshiek County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plainfield, with the one closest to Plainfield listed first.
- Navan
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Navan is located in Winneshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Navan
- Jackson Junction
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Jackson Junction is located in Winneshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jackson Junction
- Population from the 2020 Census: 54 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Plainfield, see our County-by-County Page for Plainfield.
Cemeteries Near Plainfield ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Plainfield.
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 Plainfield - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Plainfield covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Plainfield, with the one closest to Plainfield listed first.
- Willow Lawn Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Horton Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Jackson Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Pleasant Valley Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Spring Lake Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Andrews Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Pearl Rock Catholic Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Antioch Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- St. Johns Lutheran Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Oak Hill Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Pleasant Hill Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Lowell Town Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowell Town Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Lowell Town Cemetery is located 2 miles [3.2 km]<2> to the southeast of Clarksville.
- The Lowell Town Cemetery has also been known as:
- Lowell Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #95351 <3>
- Continue List (227 more) ...
- Greenwood Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- St. Michaels Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Lynwood Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 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.<4>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Plainfield had a population of 305 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Plainfield had a population of 413 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Plainfield, with the one closest to Plainfield listed first.
- Horton
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Horton is located in Bremer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horton
- Roxie
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Roxie is located in Bremer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roxie
- Clarksville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Nashua
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Waverly
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Bremer
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Bremer is located in Bremer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bremer
- Bradford
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Bradford is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradford
- Shell Rock
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Seigel
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Seigel is located in Bremer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seigel
- Powersville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Powersville is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powersville
- Republic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Republic is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Republic
- Waverly Junction
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Waverly Junction is located in Bremer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waverly Junction
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Williamstown
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Williamstown is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamstown
- Ionia
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Chickasaw
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Chickasaw is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chickasaw
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Plainfield. See our List of 1890's Communities around Plainfield.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Plainfield ...
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 36 newspapers that have been published in the area around Plainfield.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Plainfield. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Plainfield and those printed in the larger area surrounding Plainfield.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<2> of Plainfield.
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 professional and volunteer 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 Plainfield:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Bremer County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Black Hawk County
- Buchanan County
- Butler County
- Cerro Gordo County
- Chickasaw County
- Fayette County
- Floyd County
- Franklin County
- Grundy County
- Howard County
- Mitchell County
- Winneshiek 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> | 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- Plainfield) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <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> | 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 Plainfield, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |