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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 Ricketts (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 Ricketts. 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 Ricketts ...

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 Ricketts, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Ricketts may originally have been Rickett's.

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

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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.

Ricketts is located in Crawford 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 Crawford County: Audubon, Carroll, Harrison, Ida, Monona, Sac, Shelby & Woodbury.

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

  • Crawford County     (The home county of Ricketts)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ricketts, with the one closest to Ricketts listed first.
    • Charter Oak
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Schleswig
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Kenwood
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Kenwood is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenwood
    • Bell
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Bell is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell
    • Deloit
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Deloit is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deloit
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 254 people
    • Kiron
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Arion
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Arion is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arion
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 107 people
    • Denison
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Sunset Village
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Sunset Village is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunset Village
    • Dow City
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Boyer
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Boyer is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyer
    • Buck Grove
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Buck Grove is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buck Grove
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 43 people
  • Carroll County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ricketts, with the one closest to Ricketts listed first.
    • Arcadia
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Arcadia is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcadia
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 531 people
    • Breda
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Breda is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Breda
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 471 people
    • Manning
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Harrison County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ricketts, with the one closest to Ricketts listed first.
    • Dunlap
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Pisgah
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Woodbine
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
  • Ida County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ricketts, with the one closest to Ricketts listed first.
    • Battle Creek
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Ida Grove
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Arthur
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Arthur is located in Ida County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arthur
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 194 people
    • Holstein
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Galva
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
  • Monona County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ricketts, with the one closest to Ricketts listed first.
    • Ute
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Ute is located in Monona County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ute
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 337 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ute <2>
    • Mapleton
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Soldier
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Castana
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Moorhead
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Rodney
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Rodney is located in Monona County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rodney
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 57 people
    • Turin
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Onawa
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Blencoe
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Blencoe is located in Monona County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blencoe
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 196 people
    • Whiting
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
  • Sac County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ricketts, with the one closest to Ricketts listed first.
    • Odebolt
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Odebolt is located in Sac County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Odebolt
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 933 people
    • Herring ‑ Historic
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Herring is located in Sac County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herring
    • Wall Lake
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Wall Lake is located in Sac County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wall Lake
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 753 people
    • Sac City Junction ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Sac City Junction is located in Sac County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sac City Junction
    • Lake View
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Schaller
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Shelby County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ricketts, with the one closest to Ricketts listed first.
    • Defiance
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Defiance is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Defiance
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 260 people
    • Earling
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Earling is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Earling
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 403 people
    • Panama
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Westphalia
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Westphalia is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westphalia
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 117 people
    • Botna
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Botna is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Botna
    • Irwin
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Woodbury County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ricketts, with the one closest to Ricketts listed first.
    • Danbury
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Oto
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Oto is located in Woodbury County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oto
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 101 people
    • Smithland
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Cushing
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Cushing is located in Woodbury County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cushing
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 215 people
    • Anthon
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Correctionville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Hornick
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Hornick is located in Woodbury County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hornick
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 210 people
    • Climbing Hill
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Climbing Hill is located in Woodbury County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Climbing Hill

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

Cemeteries Near Ricketts ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Ricketts.

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

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

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

  • Charter Oak Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • St. Boniface Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • St. John Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • St. Paul Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Bockelmann Family Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Morgan Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Hartliben Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • St. Clairce Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • St. Marys Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Otter Creek Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Grant Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Willow Twp. Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (125 more) ...
    • Lehfeld Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Heisler Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Mt. Hope Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)

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>

While we didn't find Ricketts in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Ricketts.

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

  • Charter Oak
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Ute
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Ute is located in Monona County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ute
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 337 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ute <2>
  • Kenwood
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Kenwood is located in Crawford County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenwood
  • Danbury
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Mapleton
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
  • Bell
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Bell is located in Crawford County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell
  • Arion
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Arion is located in Crawford County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arion
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 107 people
  • Denison
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Deloit
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Deloit is located in Crawford County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deloit
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 254 people
  • Kiron
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
  • Battle Creek
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
  • Soldier
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Dow City
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Ida Grove
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Castana
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)

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

Newspapers Published in Ricketts ...

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 71 newspapers that have been published in the area around Ricketts.

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

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 websites either 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 Ricketts:

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