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 Riggs (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 Riggs. 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.
Riggs is located in Clinton 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 Clinton County: Cedar, Jackson, Jones, Scott, Carroll (IL), Rock Island (IL) & Whiteside (IL).
Below are the counties that are near Riggs. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Riggs:
- Clinton County (The home county of Riggs)
- The following are listed by their distance from Riggs, with the one closest to Riggs listed first.
- Delmar
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Charlotte
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- North Welton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- North Welton is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Welton
- Welton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Welton is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Welton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 148 people
- Goose Lake
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Goose Lake is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goose Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
- Bryant
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Bryant is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bryant
- Tenmile
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Tenmile is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tenmile
- Bliedorn ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Bliedorn is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bliedorn
- Elwood
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Elwood is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elwood
- De Witt
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Elvira
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Elvira is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elvira
- Grand Mound
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Cedar County
- The following are listed by their distance from Riggs, with the one closest to Riggs listed first.
- Lowden
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Clarence
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Bennett
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Bennett is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bennett
- Population from the 2020 Census: 373 people
- Dubuque County
- The following are listed by their distance from Riggs, with the one closest to Riggs listed first.
- Zwingle
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Zwingle is located in Dubuque County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zwingle
- Population from the 2020 Census: 93 people
- Washington Mills
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Washington Mills is located in Dubuque County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Washington Mills
- Bernard
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Wilkins
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Wilkins is located in Dubuque County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilkins
- Massey
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Massey is located in Dubuque County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Massey
- Fillmore
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Fillmore is located in Dubuque County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fillmore
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Riggs, with the one closest to Riggs listed first.
- Spragueville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Preston
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Maquoketa
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Andrew
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Van Buren
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Van Buren is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Van Buren
- Miles
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Springbrook
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Fulton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Fulton is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fulton
- Buckhorn
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Buckhorn is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckhorn
- Green Island
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Green Island is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Island
- Ironhills
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Ironhills is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ironhills
- Baldwin
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Jones County
- The following are listed by their distance from Riggs, with the one closest to Riggs listed first.
- Oxford Junction
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Oxford Junction is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oxford Junction
- Population from the 2020 Census: 480 people
- Oxford Mills
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Oxford Mills is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oxford Mills
- Clay Mills
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Clay Mills is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clay Mills
- Wyoming
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Onslow
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Hale
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Hale is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hale
- Center Junction
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Center Junction is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Center Junction
- Estimated population in 2015: 111 people
- Scott County
- The following are listed by their distance from Riggs, with the one closest to Riggs listed first.
- Noel ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Noel is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Noel
- McCausland
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- McCausland is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCausland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 311 people
- Long Grove
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Park View
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Park View is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Park View
- Donahue
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Big Rock
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Big Rock is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Rock
- Dixon
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Dixon is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dixon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 249 people
- Eldridge
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Princeton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Maysville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Maysville is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maysville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 181 people
- Hickory Grove
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Hickory Grove is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Grove
- New Liberty
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- New Liberty is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Liberty
- Population from the 2020 Census: 143 people
- Carroll County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Riggs, with the one closest to Riggs listed first.
- Arnold
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Arnold is located in Carroll County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arnold
- Savanna
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Blackhawk
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Blackhawk is located in Carroll County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackhawk
- Marcus
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Marcus is located in Carroll County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marcus
- Ayers
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Ayers is located in Carroll County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ayers
- Thomson
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Hickory Grove
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Hickory Grove is located in Carroll County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Grove
- Wacker
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Wacker is located in Carroll County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wacker
- Center Hill
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Center Hill is located in Carroll County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Center Hill
- Argo Fay
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Argo Fay is located in Carroll County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argo Fay
- Ideal
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Ideal is located in Carroll County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ideal
- Daggett ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Daggett is located in Carroll County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Daggett
- Jo Daviess County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Riggs, with the one closest to Riggs listed first.
- Hanover
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Aiken
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Aiken is located in Jo Daviess County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aiken
- Galena Junction
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Galena Junction is located in Jo Daviess County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galena Junction
- Elizabeth
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Bremen
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Bremen is located in Jo Daviess County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bremen
- Galena
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Galena is located in Jo Daviess County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galena
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,151 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Galena <1>
- Pleasant Valley
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Pleasant Valley is located in Jo Daviess County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Valley
- Rock Island County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Riggs, with the one closest to Riggs listed first.
- Cordova
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Port Byron
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Whiteside County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Riggs, with the one closest to Riggs listed first.
- East Clinton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- East Clinton is located in Whiteside County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Clinton
- Fulton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Fulton is located in Whiteside County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fulton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,285 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Fulton <1>
- Albany
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Spring Valley
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Spring Valley is located in Whiteside County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Valley
- Newton Corners
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Newton Corners is located in Whiteside County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newton Corners
- Union Grove
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Union Grove is located in Whiteside County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Grove
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Riggs, see our County-by-County Page for Riggs.
Cemeteries Near Riggs ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Riggs.
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 Riggs - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Riggs covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Riggs, with the one closest to Riggs listed first.
- Immaculate Conception Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Rathbun Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rathbun Cemetery
- The Rathbun Cemetery has also been known as:
- Haylock Farm Cemetery
- West Union Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #95915 <2>
- Haylock Farm Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- McClure Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- St. Josephs Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Richardson Farm Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Fairfield Twp. Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Union Center Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Center Cemetery
- The Union Center Cemetery has also been known as:
- East Union Center Cemetery
- Fairfield Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #94727 <2>
- Evergreen Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Miller Estate Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Miller Estate Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Assumption Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (314 more) ...
- Summer Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- St. Patricks Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Rossiter Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
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 Riggs had a population of 67 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Riggs, with the one closest to Riggs listed first.
- Browns
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Browns is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Browns
- Delmar
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Charlotte
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Spragueville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Welton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Welton is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Welton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 148 people
- Preston
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Goose Lake
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Goose Lake is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goose Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
- Maquoketa
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Andrew
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Bryant
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Bryant is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bryant
- Van Buren
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Van Buren is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Van Buren
- Elwood
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Elwood is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elwood
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Miles
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Springbrook
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- De Witt
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Riggs. See our List of 1890's Communities around Riggs.
Newspapers Published in Riggs ...
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 42 newspapers that have been published in the area around Riggs.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Riggs, there are papers which were published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Riggs.
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 Riggs:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Clinton County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cedar County
- Dubuque County
- Jackson County
- Jones County
- Scott County
- Carroll County
- Jo Daviess County
- Rock Island County
- Whiteside 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 Riggs, 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' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Riggs) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |