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 Plano (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 Plano. 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 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.
Plano is located in Appanoose 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 Appanoose County: Davis, Lucas, Monroe, Wapello, Wayne, Putnam (MO) & Schuyler (MO).
Below are the counties that are near Plano. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Plano:
- Appanoose County (The home county of Plano)
- The following are listed by their distance from Plano, with the one closest to Plano listed first.
- Jerome
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Jerome is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jerome
- Brazil
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Brazil is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brazil
- Mystic
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Mystic is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mystic
- Population from the 2020 Census: 410 people
- Numa
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Numa is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Numa
- Population from the 2020 Census: 89 people
- Sunshine
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Sunshine is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunshine
- Walnut City
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Walnut City is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut City
- Clarkdale
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Clarkdale is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarkdale
- Rathbun
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Rathbun is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rathbun
- Population from the 2020 Census: 72 people
- Centerville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Darbyville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Darbyville is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darbyville
- Iconium
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Iconium is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iconium
- Cincinnati
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Cincinnati is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cincinnati
- Population from the 2020 Census: 345 people
- Exline
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Exline is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Exline
- Population from the 2020 Census: 154 people
- Davis County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plano, with the one closest to Plano listed first.
- Paris
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Paris is located in Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paris
- West Grove
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- West Grove is located in Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Grove
- Mark
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Mark is located in Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mark
- Drakesville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Decatur County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plano, with the one closest to Plano listed first.
- Garden Grove
(29 miles [46.7 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
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Le Roy is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Le Roy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 14 people
- Woodland
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Woodland is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland
- Lucas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plano, with the one closest to Plano listed first.
- Zero
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Zero is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zero
- Russell
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Chariton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Olmitz
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Olmitz is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olmitz
- Derby
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Derby is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Derby
- Population from the 2020 Census: 111 people
- Williamson
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Lucas
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Lucas is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucas
- Population from the 2020 Census: 207 people
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plano, with the one closest to Plano listed first.
- Columbia
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Columbia is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbia
- Hamilton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Hamilton is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamilton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 135 people
- Marysville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Marysville is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marysville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 68 people
- Monroe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plano, with the one closest to Plano listed first.
- Melrose
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Georgetown
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Georgetown is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgetown
- Selection
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Selection is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Selection
- Albia
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Lovilia
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Avery
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Avery is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avery
- Bluff Creek
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Bluff Creek is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff Creek
- Wapello County
- Blakesburg
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Wayne County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plano, with the one closest to Plano listed first.
- Promise City
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Promise City is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Promise City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 110 people
- Seymour
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Confidence
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Confidence is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Confidence
- Genoa
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Genoa is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Genoa
- Millerton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Millerton is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millerton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 42 people
- Corydon
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Allerton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Hodge
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Hodge is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hodge
- Clio
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Clio is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clio
- Population from the 2020 Census: 73 people
- Humeston
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Lineville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Lineville is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lineville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 217 people
- Mercer County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Plano, with the one closest to Plano listed first.
- South Lineville
(27 miles [43.5 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
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Ravanna
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Ravanna is located in Mercer County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ravanna
- Putnam County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Plano, with the one closest to Plano listed first.
- Pearl City
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Pearl City is located in Putnam County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pearl City
- Mendota
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Mendota is located in Putnam County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mendota
- Saint John
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Saint John is located in Putnam County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint John
- Unionville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Powersville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Powersville is located in Putnam County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powersville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 54 people
- Lucerne
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Lucerne is located in Putnam County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucerne
- Population from the 2020 Census: 80 people
- Livonia
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Livonia is located in Putnam County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Livonia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 71 people
- Worthington
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Worthington is located in Putnam County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Worthington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 76 people
- Schuyler County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Plano, with the one closest to Plano listed first.
- Coatsville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Coatsville is located in Schuyler County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coatsville
- Glenwood
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Glenwood is located in Schuyler County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 201 people
- Julesburg
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Julesburg is located in Schuyler County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Julesburg
- Sullivan County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Plano, with the one closest to Plano listed first.
- Pennville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Pennville is located in Sullivan County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pennville
- Pollock
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Pollock is located in Sullivan County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pollock
- Population from the 2020 Census: 79 people
- Newtown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Plano, see our County-by-County Page for Plano.
Cemeteries Near Plano ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Plano.
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 Plano - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Plano covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Plano, with the one closest to Plano listed first.
- Crossroads Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Lyons Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Jerome Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Philadelphia Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Garfield Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Felkner Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Highland Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Concord Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Jones Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Miller Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Numa Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- County Farm Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Continue List (377 more) ...
- Baker Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Elgin Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Cozad Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
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 in 1895, Plano had a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Plano had a population of 67 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Plano, with the one closest to Plano listed first.
- Jerome
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Jerome is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jerome
- Garfield
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Garfield is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garfield
- Brazil
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Brazil is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brazil
- Diamond
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Diamond is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diamond
- Numa
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Numa is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Numa
- Population from the 2020 Census: 89 people
- Mystic
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Mystic is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mystic
- Population from the 2020 Census: 410 people
- Promise City
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Promise City is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Promise City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 110 people
- Seymour
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Walnut City
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Walnut City is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut City
- Forbush
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Forbush is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forbush
- Confidence
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Confidence is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Confidence
- Centerville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Bridgeport
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Bridgeport is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgeport
- Cincinnati
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Cincinnati is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cincinnati
- Population from the 2020 Census: 345 people
- Iconium
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Iconium is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iconium
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Plano. See our List of 1890's Communities around Plano.
Newspapers Published in Plano ...
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 139 newspapers that have been published in the area around Plano.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Plano, 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 Plano.
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 Plano:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Appanoose County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Davis County
- Decatur County
- Lucas County
- Marion County
- Monroe County
- Wapello County
- Wayne County
- Mercer County
- Putnam County
- Schuyler 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> | 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 Plano, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Plano) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |