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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 Rhodes (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 Rhodes. 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.

Name Variations for Rhodes ...

When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.

Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.

While the name of this city is Rhodes, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Rhodes may originally have been Rhode's.

You might be interested in other communities that are also named Rhodes. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Rhodes.

If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.

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.

Rhodes is located in Marshall 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 Marshall County: Grundy, Hardin, Jasper, Poweshiek, Story & Tama.

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

  • Marshall County     (The home county of Rhodes)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rhodes, with the one closest to Rhodes listed first.
    • Melbourne
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Malta
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Malta is located in Marshall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Malta
    • State Center
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • State Center Junction
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • State Center Junction is located in Marshall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for State Center Junction
    • LaMoille
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • LaMoille is located in Marshall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for LaMoille
    • Luray
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Luray is located in Marshall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Luray
    • Haverhill
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Clemons
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Clemons is located in Marshall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clemons
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 141 people
    • Laurel
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Laurel is located in Marshall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 234 people
    • Saint Anthony
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Saint Anthony is located in Marshall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Anthony
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 101 people
    • Marietta
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Marietta is located in Marshall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marietta
    • Albion
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Grundy County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rhodes, with the one closest to Rhodes listed first.
    • Conrad
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Beaman
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Beaman is located in Grundy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaman
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 183 people
  • Hamilton County
    • Randall
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Randall is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Randall
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 166 people
  • Hardin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rhodes, with the one closest to Rhodes listed first.
    • Union
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Union is located in Hardin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 373 people
    • New Providence
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • New Providence is located in Hardin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Providence
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
    • Whitten
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Whitten is located in Hardin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitten
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 140 people
    • Garden City
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Garden City is located in Hardin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden City
    • Gifford
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Hubbard
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Radcliffe
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Eldora
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
    • Sherman
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Sherman is located in Hardin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherman
  • Jasper County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rhodes, with the one closest to Rhodes listed first.
    • Baxter
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Clyde
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Clyde is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clyde
    • Ira
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Ira is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ira
    • Mingo
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Green Castle
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Green Castle is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Castle
    • Goddard
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Goddard is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goddard
    • Valeria
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Valeria is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valeria
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 58 people
    • Lambs Grove
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Lambs Grove is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lambs Grove
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 165 people
    • Colfax
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Oswalt
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Oswalt is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oswalt
    • Newton
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Metz
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Metz is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Metz
  • Marion County
    • Percy ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Percy is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Percy
  • Polk County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rhodes, with the one closest to Rhodes listed first.
    • Loring
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Loring is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loring
    • Santiago
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Santiago is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Santiago
    • Elkhart
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Mitchellville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Bondurant
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Alleman
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Alleman is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alleman
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 447 people
    • Altoona
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Ankeny
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Berwick
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Berwick is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berwick
    • Sheldahl
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Sheldahl is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheldahl
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 325 people
    • Carney
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Carney is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carney
    • Polk City Junction
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Polk City Junction is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Polk City Junction
  • Poweshiek County
    • Grinnell
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Story County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rhodes, with the one closest to Rhodes listed first.
    • Collins
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
      • Collins is located in Story County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collins
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 472 people
    • Colo
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Iowa Center
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Iowa Center is located in Story County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iowa Center
    • Maxwell
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Fernald
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Fernald is located in Story County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fernald
    • Nevada
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Zearing
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Shipley
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Shipley is located in Story County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shipley
    • Cambridge
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • McCallsburg
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • McCallsburg is located in Story County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCallsburg
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 320 people
    • Huxley
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Midvale
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Midvale is located in Story County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midvale
  • Tama County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rhodes, with the one closest to Rhodes listed first.
    • Montour
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Garwin
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Garwin is located in Tama County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garwin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 490 people
    • Gladbrook
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Rhodes ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Rhodes.

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

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

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

  • St. Josephs Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Eden Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Nicholls Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Day Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Melbourne Memorial Garden Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Wilkey Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Collins Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Deeter Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Fairview Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • St. Josephs Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Barbee Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Maple Grove Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (284 more) ...

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 Rhodes had a population of 434 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Rhodes had a population of 298 people.

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

  • Melbourne
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Malta
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Malta is located in Marshall County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Malta
  • Collins
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Collins is located in Story County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collins
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 472 people
  • State Center
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Clyde
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Clyde is located in Jasper County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clyde
  • Baxter
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • State Center Junction
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • State Center Junction is located in Marshall County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for State Center Junction
  • Colo
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Ira
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Ira is located in Jasper County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ira
  • Luray
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Luray is located in Marshall County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Luray
  • LaMoille
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • LaMoille is located in Marshall County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for LaMoille
  • Maxwell
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Haverhill
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Iowa Center
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Iowa Center is located in Story County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iowa Center
    • Mingo
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)

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

Newspapers Published in Rhodes ...

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 184 newspapers that have been published in the area around Rhodes.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Rhodes, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<5>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Rhodes.

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 Rhodes:

Footnotes ...

<1>It's generally believed that possessive apostrophes are removed to prevent confusion on maps where the apostrophe may be confused with a cartographic symbol. While this is generally true, it's not uncommon to find possessive apostrophes in administrative names (such as towns or counties).
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<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 Rhodes, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<5>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 drawn from Point A (ie- Rhodes) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.