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 Rorbeck (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 Rorbeck. 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 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.
Rorbeck is located in Shelby 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 Shelby County: Audubon, Carroll, Cass, Crawford, Harrison & Pottawattamie.
Below are the counties that are near Rorbeck. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Rorbeck:
- Shelby County (The home county of Rorbeck)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rorbeck, with the one closest to Rorbeck listed first.
- Elk Horn
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Corley
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Corley is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corley
- Harlan
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Kirkman
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Kirkman is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kirkman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 61 people
- Shelby
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Tennant
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Tennant is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tennant
- Population from the 2020 Census: 63 people
- Irwin
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Westphalia
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Westphalia is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westphalia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 117 people
- Botna
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Botna is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Botna
- Defiance
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Defiance is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Defiance
- Population from the 2020 Census: 260 people
- Earling
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Earling is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Earling
- Population from the 2020 Census: 403 people
- Panama
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Portsmouth
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Audubon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rorbeck, with the one closest to Rorbeck listed first.
- Kimballton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Brayton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Exira
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Fiscus
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Fiscus is located in Audubon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fiscus
- Hamlin
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Hamlin is located in Audubon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamlin
- Audubon
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Ross
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Ross is located in Audubon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ross
- Gray
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Carroll County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rorbeck, with the one closest to Rorbeck listed first.
- Manning
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Templeton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Dedham
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Cass County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rorbeck, with the one closest to Rorbeck listed first.
- Marne
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Atlantic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Sycamore Village
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Sycamore Village is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sycamore Village
- Grove City ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Grove City is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grove City
- Lewis
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Wiota
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Norway Center
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Norway Center is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norway Center
- Anita
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Griswold
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Lyman
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Lyman is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lyman
- Cumberland
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Cumberland is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cumberland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 246 people
- Massena
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Crawford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rorbeck, with the one closest to Rorbeck listed first.
- Astor
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Astor is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Astor
- Manilla
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Aspinwall
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Aspinwall is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aspinwall
- Population from the 2020 Census: 40 people
- Buck Grove
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Buck Grove is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buck Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 43 people
- Guthrie County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rorbeck, with the one closest to Rorbeck listed first.
- North Branch
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- North Branch is located in Guthrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Branch
- Adair
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Harrison County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rorbeck, with the one closest to Rorbeck listed first.
- Persia
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Persia is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Persia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 281 people
- Yorkshire
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Yorkshire is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorkshire
- Montgomery County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rorbeck, with the one closest to Rorbeck listed first.
- Elliott
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Grant
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Grant is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grant
- Population from the 2020 Census: 84 people
- Pottawattamie County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rorbeck, with the one closest to Rorbeck listed first.
- Walnut
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Walnut is located in Pottawattamie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut
- Population from the 2020 Census: 768 people
- Avoca
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Avoca is located in Pottawattamie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avoca
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,537 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Avoca <1>
- Harlan Junction ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Harlan Junction is located in Pottawattamie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harlan Junction
- Hancock
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Hancock is located in Pottawattamie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hancock
- Population from the 2020 Census: 196 people
- Oakland
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Minden
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Neola
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Carson
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Macedonia
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Underwood
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Rorbeck, see our County-by-County Page for Rorbeck.
Cemeteries Near Rorbeck ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Rorbeck.
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 Rorbeck - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Rorbeck covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Rorbeck, with the one closest to Rorbeck listed first.
- Monroe Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Clay Twp. Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Carlsen - Larsen Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Elk Horn Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Walnut Catholic Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Walnut Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Brighton Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Oakfield Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Immanuel Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Altamont Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Bethlehem Lutheran Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Oak Hill Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Continue List (155 more) ...
- Folck Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Bowmans Grove
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Lee Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 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.<3>
While we didn't find Rorbeck in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Rorbeck.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Rorbeck, with the one closest to Rorbeck listed first.
- Elk Horn
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Walnut
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Walnut is located in Pottawattamie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut
- Population from the 2020 Census: 768 people
- Marne
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Kimballton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Lorah
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Lorah is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lorah
- Brayton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Corley
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Corley is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corley
- Avoca
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Avoca is located in Pottawattamie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avoca
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,537 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Avoca <1>
- Harlan Junction ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Harlan Junction is located in Pottawattamie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harlan Junction
- Atlantic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Harlan
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Exira
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Continue List (20 more) ...
- Fiscus
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Fiscus is located in Audubon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fiscus
- Kirkman
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Kirkman is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kirkman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 61 people
- Hamlin
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Hamlin is located in Audubon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamlin
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Rorbeck. See our List of 1890's Communities around Rorbeck.
Newspapers Published in Rorbeck ...
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 79 newspapers that have been published in the area around Rorbeck.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Rorbeck, 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 Rorbeck.
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 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 Rorbeck:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Shelby County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Audubon County
- Carroll County
- Cass County
- Crawford County
- Guthrie County
- Harrison County
- Montgomery County
- Pottawattamie 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 Rorbeck, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Rorbeck) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |