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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 Randalia (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 Randalia. 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.

Randalia is located in Fayette 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 Fayette County: Allamakee, Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Chickasaw, Clayton, Delaware & Winneshiek.

Below are the counties that are near Randalia. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Randalia:

  • Fayette County     (The home county of Randalia)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Randalia, with the one closest to Randalia listed first.
    • Donnan
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
      • Donnan is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Donnan
    • Fayette
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Hawkeye
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Hawkeye is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawkeye
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 399 people
    • Maynard
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • West Union
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Westgate
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Westgate is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westgate
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 209 people
    • Douglass
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Douglass is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Douglass
    • Brainard
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Brainard is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brainard
    • Wadena
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Illyria
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Illyria is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Illyria
    • Alpha
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Alpha is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alpha
    • Oelwein
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
  • Allamakee County
    • Postville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Black Hawk County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Randalia, with the one closest to Randalia listed first.
    • Dunkerton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Dunkerton is located in Black Hawk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunkerton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 851 people
    • Edwards ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Edwards is located in Black Hawk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edwards
    • Jesup
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Jesup is located in Black Hawk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jesup
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,711 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Jesup <1>
    • Dewar
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Dewar is located in Black Hawk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dewar
  • Bremer County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Randalia, with the one closest to Randalia listed first.
    • Sumner
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Tripoli
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Readlyn
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Knittel
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Knittel is located in Bremer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knittel
    • Frederika
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Frederika is located in Bremer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frederika
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 205 people
    • Klinger
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Klinger is located in Bremer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Klinger
    • Seigel
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Seigel is located in Bremer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seigel
    • Denver
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Bremer
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Bremer is located in Bremer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bremer
    • Horton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Horton is located in Bremer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horton
  • Buchanan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Randalia, with the one closest to Randalia listed first.
    • Stanley
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Stanley is located in Buchanan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stanley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 120 people
    • Hazleton
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Fairbank
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Aurora
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Aurora is located in Buchanan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aurora
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 162 people
    • Lamont
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Doris
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Doris is located in Buchanan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doris
    • Independence
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Winthrop
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Winthrop is located in Buchanan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winthrop
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 848 people
  • Chickasaw County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Randalia, with the one closest to Randalia listed first.
    • Fredericksburg
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Lawler
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • New Hampton
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Republic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Republic is located in Chickasaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Republic
    • Jerico
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Jerico is located in Chickasaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jerico
  • Clayton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Randalia, with the one closest to Randalia listed first.
    • Volga
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Volga is located in Clayton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Volga
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 193 people
    • Gunder
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Gunder is located in Clayton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gunder
    • Strawberry Point
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Osborne
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Osborne is located in Clayton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osborne
    • Elkader
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Mederville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Mederville is located in Clayton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mederville
    • Saint Olaf
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Hardin
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Hardin is located in Clayton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hardin
    • Luana
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Farmersburg
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Farmersburg is located in Clayton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farmersburg
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 264 people
    • Littleport
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Littleport is located in Clayton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Littleport
    • Clayton Center
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Clayton Center is located in Clayton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clayton Center
  • Delaware County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Randalia, with the one closest to Randalia listed first.
    • Forestville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Forestville is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forestville
    • Dundee
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Edgewood
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Masonville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Masonville is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Masonville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 119 people
  • Howard County
    • Protivin
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Winneshiek County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Randalia, with the one closest to Randalia listed first.
    • Festina
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Jackson Junction
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Jackson Junction is located in Winneshiek County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jackson Junction
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 54 people
    • Navan
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Navan is located in Winneshiek County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Navan
    • Fort Atkinson
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Ossian
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Castalia
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Castalia is located in Winneshiek County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Castalia
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 156 people
    • Calmar
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Spillville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Frankville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Frankville is located in Winneshiek County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frankville
    • Decorah
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
    • Ridgeway
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Randalia, see our County-by-County Page for Randalia.

Cemeteries Near Randalia ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Randalia.

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 Randalia - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Randalia covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Randalia, with the one closest to Randalia listed first.

  • Dunhams Grove Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Center Grove Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • St. Francis Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Pleasant Hill Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Grandview Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • South Windsor Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Fayette County Farm Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Hope Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Hawkeye Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Union Evangelical Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Long Grove Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Mt. Calvary Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (303 more) ...
    • St. Peter Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Windsor Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Lima Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)

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 Randalia had a population of 104 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Randalia had a population of 60 people.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Randalia, with the one closest to Randalia listed first.

  • Donnan
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Donnan is located in Fayette County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Donnan
  • Fayette
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Maynard
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Albany
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Albany is located in Fayette County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albany
  • Hawkeye
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Hawkeye is located in Fayette County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawkeye
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 399 people
  • Lima
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Lima is located in Fayette County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lima
  • West Union
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Westgate
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Westgate is located in Fayette County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westgate
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 209 people
  • Brainard
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Brainard is located in Fayette County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brainard
  • Douglass
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Douglass is located in Fayette County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Douglass
  • Richfield
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Richfield is located in Fayette County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richfield
  • Sumner
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (18 more) ...
    • Wadena
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Oelwein
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Illyria
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Illyria is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Illyria

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Randalia. See our List of 1890's Communities around Randalia.

Newspapers Published in Randalia ...

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 137 newspapers that have been published in the area around Randalia.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Randalia, 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 Randalia.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Randalia:

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 Randalia, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Randalia) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.