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 Plato (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 Plato. 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 and 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.
Plato is located in Cedar 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 Cedar County: Clinton, Johnson, Jones, Linn, Muscatine & Scott.
Below are the counties that are near Plato. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Plato:
- Cedar County (The home county of Plato)
- The following are listed by their distance from Plato, with the one closest to Plato listed first.
- Cedar Valley
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Cedar Valley is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Valley
- Cedar Bluff
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Cedar Bluff is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Bluff
- Buchanan
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Buchanan is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buchanan
- West Branch
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Springdale
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Springdale is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springdale
- Centerdale
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Centerdale is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerdale
- Downey
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Downey is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Downey
- Rochester
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Rochester is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rochester
- Tipton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Mechanicsville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Mechanicsville is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mechanicsville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,116 people
- Stanwood
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Lime City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Lime City is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lime City
- Former names for Lime City:
- Lime Kilns
- Munn
- Clinton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plato, with the one closest to Plato listed first.
- Wheatland
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Wheatland is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheatland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 724 people
- Toronto
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Toronto is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toronto
- Population from the 2020 Census: 119 people
- Calamus
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Calamus is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calamus
- Population from the 2020 Census: 397 people
- Lost Nation
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Iowa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plato, with the one closest to Plato listed first.
- Amana
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Middle Amana
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Johnson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plato, with the one closest to Plato listed first.
- Oasis
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Oasis is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oasis
- Elmira
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Elmira is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmira
- Morse
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Morse is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morse
- Solon
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Midway ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Midway is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
- Iowa City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- University Heights
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- University Heights is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for University Heights
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,025 people
- Coralville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- North Liberty
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Oakdale
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Oakdale is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakdale
- Hills
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Lone Tree
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Jones County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plato, with the one closest to Plato listed first.
- Morley
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Morley is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 110 people
- Martelle
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Martelle is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martelle
- Population from the 2020 Census: 246 people
- Olin
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Hale
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Hale is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hale
- Fairview
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Fairview is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
- Oxford Junction
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Oxford Junction is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oxford Junction
- Population from the 2020 Census: 480 people
- Oxford Mills
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Oxford Mills is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oxford Mills
- Anamosa
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Stone City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Stone City is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stone City
- Amber
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Amber is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amber
- Wyoming
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Center Junction
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Center Junction is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Center Junction
- Estimated population in 2015: 111 people
- Linn County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plato, with the one closest to Plato listed first.
- Lisbon
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Mount Vernon
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Ely
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Bertram
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Bertram is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bertram
- Population from the 2020 Census: 278 people
- Western
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Western is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Western
- Lincolnway Village
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Lincolnway Village is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lincolnway Village
- Springville
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Viola
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Viola is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Viola
- Cedar Rapids
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Squaw Creek Village
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Squaw Creek Village is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Squaw Creek Village
- Marion
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Grand View Village
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Grand View Village is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grand View Village
- Louisa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plato, with the one closest to Plato listed first.
- Gladwin
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Gladwin is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gladwin
- Letts
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Muscatine County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plato, with the one closest to Plato listed first.
- West Liberty
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Atalissa
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Moscow
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Moscow is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moscow
- Nichols
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Nichols is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nichols
- Population from the 2020 Census: 358 people
- South Towne Park
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- South Towne Park is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Towne Park
- Wilton
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Conesville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Conesville is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conesville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 427 people
- Muscatine
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Stockton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Stockton is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stockton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 189 people
- Pleasant Prairie
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Pleasant Prairie is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Prairie
- Fruitland
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Fruitland is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fruitland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 966 people
- Fairport
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Fairport is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairport
- Scott County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plato, with the one closest to Plato listed first.
- New Liberty
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- New Liberty is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Liberty
- Population from the 2020 Census: 143 people
- Durant
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Big Rock
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Big Rock is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Rock
- Dixon
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Dixon is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dixon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 249 people
- Walcott
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Hickory Grove
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Hickory Grove is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Grove
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plato, with the one closest to Plato listed first.
- Riverside
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Kalona
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Plato, see our County-by-County Page for Plato.
Cemeteries Near Plato ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Plato.
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 Plato - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Plato covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Plato, with the one closest to Plato listed first.
- Honey Grove Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Howard Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- St. Josephs Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Evergreen Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Mathews Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Shawver Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Oasis Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- West Branch Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Old Friends Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Springdale Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Wood Bridge Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Wood Bridge Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (346 more) ...
- Cass Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- St. Bridgets Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Chamness Cemetery
(5 miles [8 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.<3>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Plato had a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Plato, with the one closest to Plato listed first.
- Cedar Bluff
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Cedar Bluff is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Bluff
- Cedar Valley
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Cedar Valley is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Valley
- Buchanan
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Buchanan is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buchanan
- Oasis
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Oasis is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oasis
- West Branch
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Springdale
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Springdale is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springdale
- Elmira
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Elmira is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmira
- Centerdale
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Centerdale is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerdale
- Morse
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Morse is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morse
- Graham ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Graham is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graham
- Downey
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Downey is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Downey
- Rochester
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Rochester is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rochester
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Tipton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Midway ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Midway is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
- Solon
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Plato. See our List of 1890's Communities around Plato.
Newspapers Published in Plato ...
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 64 newspapers that have been published in the area around Plato.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Plato, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Plato.
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 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 Plato:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Cedar County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clinton County
- Iowa County
- Johnson County
- Jones County
- Linn County
- Louisa County
- Muscatine County
- Scott County
- Washington 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 Plato, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Plato) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |