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 Rock Valley (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 Rock Valley. 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 Rock Valley ...
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.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Rock Valley: Rock Vly. (or less commonly used: Rock Vally. or Rock Vlly.)
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Rock Valley. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Rock Valley.
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 northwest 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 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.
Rock Valley is located in Sioux 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 Sioux County: Lyon, O'Brien, Plymouth, Lincoln (SD) & Union (SD).
Below are the counties that are near Rock Valley. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Rock Valley:
- Sioux County (The home county of Rock Valley)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rock Valley, with the one closest to Rock Valley listed first.
- Perkins
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Perkins is located in Sioux County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perkins
- Lebanon
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Lebanon is located in Sioux County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lebanon
- Hull
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Sioux Center
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Westbrook Village
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Westbrook Village is located in Sioux County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westbrook Village
- Middleburg
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Middleburg is located in Sioux County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middleburg
- Boyden
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Boyden is located in Sioux County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyden
- Population from the 2020 Census: 682 people
- Ireton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Hawarden
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Maurice
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Maurice is located in Sioux County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maurice
- Population from the 2020 Census: 270 people
- Matlock
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- McNally
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- McNally is located in Sioux County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McNally
- Orange City
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Lyon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rock Valley, with the one closest to Rock Valley listed first.
- Doon
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Alvord
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Inwood
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Beloit
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Beloit is located in Lyon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beloit
- Lester
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Lester is located in Lyon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lester
- Population from the 2020 Census: 303 people
- Edna
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Edna is located in Lyon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edna
- Rock Rapids
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Klondike
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Klondike is located in Lyon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Klondike
- George
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Larchwood
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Little Rock
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- O'Brien County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rock Valley, with the one closest to Rock Valley listed first.
- Sheldon
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Archer
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Osceola County
- Ashton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Plymouth County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rock Valley, with the one closest to Rock Valley listed first.
- Craig
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Craig is located in Plymouth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Craig
- Population from the 2020 Census: 91 people
- Struble
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Struble is located in Plymouth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Struble
- Population from the 2020 Census: 77 people
- Brunsville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Brunsville is located in Plymouth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brunsville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 152 people
- Le Mars
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Oyens
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Oyens is located in Plymouth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oyens
- Population from the 2020 Census: 102 people
- Akron
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Nobles County (MN)
- Ellsworth
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Rock County (MN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rock Valley, with the one closest to Rock Valley listed first.
- Steen
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Steen is located in Rock County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steen
- Population from the 2020 Census: 164 people
- Bruce
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Bruce is located in Rock County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bruce
- Hills
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Ash Creek
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Ash Creek is located in Rock County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ash Creek
- Kanaranzi
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Manley
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Manley is located in Rock County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manley
- Beaver Creek
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Beaver Creek is located in Rock County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver Creek
- Population from the 2020 Census: 283 people
- Clay County (SD)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rock Valley, with the one closest to Rock Valley listed first.
- Glenwood ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Glenwood is located in Clay County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenwood
- Estimated population in 2014: 103 people
- Alsen
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Alsen is located in Clay County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alsen
- Lincoln County (SD)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rock Valley, with the one closest to Rock Valley listed first.
- Hudson
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Fairview
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Moe
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Moe is located in Lincoln County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moe
- Canton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Harrisburg
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Shindler
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Shindler is located in Lincoln County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shindler
- Population from the 2010 Census: 584 people
- Worthing
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Minnehaha County (SD)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rock Valley, with the one closest to Rock Valley listed first.
- Rowena
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Valley Springs
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Split Rock Heights
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Split Rock Heights is located in Minnehaha County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Split Rock Heights
- Estimated population in 2014: 216 people
- Pine Lakes Addition
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Pine Lakes Addition is located in Minnehaha County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Lakes Addition
- Population from the 2010 Census: 314 people
- Brandon
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Union County (SD)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rock Valley, with the one closest to Rock Valley listed first.
- Alcester
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Big Springs
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Big Springs is located in Union County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Springs
- Beresford
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Beresford is located in Union County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beresford
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,043 people
- Former name for Beresford:
- Paris
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Beresford <1>
- Emmet
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Emmet is located in Union County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emmet
- Estimated population in 2014: 231 people
- Nora
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Nora is located in Union County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nora
- Estimated population in 2014: 240 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Rock Valley, see our County-by-County Page for Rock Valley.
Cemeteries Near Rock Valley ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Rock Valley.
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 Rock Valley - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Rock Valley covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Rock Valley, with the one closest to Rock Valley listed first.
- Valley View Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- St. Marys Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Hillside Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Carmel Reformed Church Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Pioneer Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Lebanon Christian Reform Church Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Peace Lutheran Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Hope Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Sioux Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- St. Josephs Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Garfield Twp. Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Richland Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (123 more) ...
- Bragstad Family Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Eden Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- St. Marys Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
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 Rock Valley had a population of 542 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Rock Valley had a population of 3,901 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Rock Valley, with the one closest to Rock Valley listed first.
- Perkins
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Perkins is located in Sioux County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perkins
- Doon
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Hull
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Alvord
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Inwood
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Fairview
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Sioux Center
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Middleburg
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Middleburg is located in Sioux County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middleburg
- Beloit
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Beloit is located in Lyon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beloit
- Moe
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Moe is located in Lincoln County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moe
- Ireton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Boyden
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Boyden is located in Sioux County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyden
- Population from the 2020 Census: 682 people
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Hawarden
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Edna
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Edna is located in Lyon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edna
- Rock Rapids
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Rock Valley. See our List of 1890's Communities around Rock Valley.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Rock Valley ...
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 130 newspapers that have been published in the area around Rock Valley.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Rock Valley. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Rock Valley and those printed in the larger area surrounding Rock Valley.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4> of Rock Valley.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we 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 Rock Valley:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Sioux County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Lyon County
- O'Brien County
- Osceola County
- Plymouth County
- Nobles County
- Rock County
- Clay County
- Lincoln County
- Minnehaha County
- Union 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 Rock Valley, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Rock Valley) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |