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 Savannah (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 Savannah. 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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors 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.
Savannah is located in Davis 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 Davis County: Appanoose, Jefferson, Monroe, Van Buren, Wapello, Schuyler (MO) & Scotland (MO).
Below are the counties that are near Savannah. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Savannah:
- Davis County (The home county of Savannah)
- The following are listed by their distance from Savannah, with the one closest to Savannah listed first.
- Mark
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Mark is located in Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mark
- Stiles
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Stiles is located in Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stiles
- Steuben
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Steuben is located in Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steuben
- Bloomfield
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- West Grove
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- West Grove is located in Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Grove
- Pulaski
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Pulaski is located in Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pulaski
- Population from the 2020 Census: 291 people
- Drakesville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Paris
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Paris is located in Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paris
- Floris
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Floris is located in Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Floris
- Population from the 2020 Census: 143 people
- Chequest
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Chequest is located in Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chequest
- Carbon
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Carbon is located in Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carbon
- Appanoose County
- The following are listed by their distance from Savannah, with the one closest to Savannah listed first.
- Orleans
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Orleans is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orleans
- Moulton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Moulton is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moulton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 580 people
- Coal City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Coal City is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coal City
- Udell
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Udell is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Udell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 44 people
- Unionville
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Exline
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Exline is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Exline
- Population from the 2020 Census: 154 people
- Centerville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Cincinnati
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Cincinnati is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cincinnati
- Population from the 2020 Census: 345 people
- Darbyville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Darbyville is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darbyville
- Rathbun
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Rathbun is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rathbun
- Population from the 2020 Census: 72 people
- Sunshine
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Sunshine is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunshine
- Clarkdale
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Clarkdale is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarkdale
- Jefferson County
- Batavia
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Monroe County
- Selection
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Selection is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Selection
- Van Buren County
- The following are listed by their distance from Savannah, with the one closest to Savannah listed first.
- Milton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Cantril
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Selma
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Selma is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Selma
- Douds
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Douds is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Douds
- Leando
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Leando is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leando
- Keosauqua
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Mount Sterling
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Kilbourn
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Kilbourn is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kilbourn
- Mount Zion
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Mount Zion is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Zion
- Wapello County
- The following are listed by their distance from Savannah, with the one closest to Savannah listed first.
- Eldon
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Cliffland
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Cliffland is located in Wapello County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cliffland
- Blakesburg
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Agency
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- East Ottumwa
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- East Ottumwa is located in Wapello County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Ottumwa
- Bidwell
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Bidwell is located in Wapello County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bidwell
- Ottumwa
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Dahlonega
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Dahlonega is located in Wapello County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dahlonega
- Adair County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Savannah, with the one closest to Savannah listed first.
- Kirksville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Danforth ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Danforth is located in Adair County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danforth
- Novinger
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Novinger is located in Adair County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Novinger
- Population from the 2020 Census: 431 people
- Knox County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Savannah, with the one closest to Savannah listed first.
- Greensburg
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Greensburg is located in Knox County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greensburg
- Rutledge
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Baring
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Kenwood
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Kenwood is located in Knox County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenwood
- Putnam County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Savannah, with the one closest to Savannah listed first.
- Livonia
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Livonia is located in Putnam County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Livonia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 71 people
- Worthington
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Worthington is located in Putnam County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Worthington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 76 people
- Mendota
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Mendota is located in Putnam County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mendota
- Pearl City
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Pearl City is located in Putnam County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pearl City
- Unionville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Schuyler County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Savannah, with the one closest to Savannah listed first.
- Lancaster
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Glenwood
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Glenwood is located in Schuyler County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 201 people
- Coatsville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Coatsville is located in Schuyler County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coatsville
- Downing
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Downing is located in Schuyler County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Downing
- Population from the 2020 Census: 341 people
- Clifton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Clifton is located in Schuyler County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifton
- Julesburg
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Julesburg is located in Schuyler County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Julesburg
- Queen City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Queen City is located in Schuyler County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Queen City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 607 people
- Greentop
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Scotland County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Savannah, with the one closest to Savannah listed first.
- Kilwinning
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Kilwinning is located in Scotland County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kilwinning
- Memphis
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Unity
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Unity is located in Scotland County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unity
- Pleasant Retreat
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Pleasant Retreat is located in Scotland County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Retreat
- Arbela
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Granger
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Granger is located in Scotland County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granger
- Population from the 2020 Census: 34 people
- Gorin
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Gorin is located in Scotland County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gorin
- South Gorin
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- South Gorin is located in Scotland County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Gorin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 93 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Savannah, see our County-by-County Page for Savannah.
Cemeteries Near Savannah ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Savannah.
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 Savannah - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Savannah covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Savannah, with the one closest to Savannah listed first.
- Savannah Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Small Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Howell Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Bridwell Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Bragg Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Inskeep Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Dooley Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Fenton Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Kelley Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- New Zion Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Darby Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Gardner Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (425 more) ...
- French Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Morgan Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Wesley Chapel Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 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.<4>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Savannah had a population of 76 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Savannah, with the one closest to Savannah listed first.
- Mark
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Mark is located in Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mark
- Vinita
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Vinita is located in Schuyler County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vinita
- Stiles
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Stiles is located in Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stiles
- Steuben
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Steuben is located in Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steuben
- Monterey
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Monterey is located in Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monterey
- Lancaster
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Bloomfield
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- West Grove
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- West Grove is located in Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Grove
- Coatsville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Coatsville is located in Schuyler County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coatsville
- Glenwood Junction
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Glenwood Junction is located in Schuyler County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenwood Junction
- Glenwood
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Glenwood is located in Schuyler County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 201 people
- Kilwinning
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Kilwinning is located in Scotland County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kilwinning
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Downing
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Downing is located in Schuyler County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Downing
- Population from the 2020 Census: 341 people
- Pulaski
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Pulaski is located in Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pulaski
- Population from the 2020 Census: 291 people
- Hitt
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Hitt is located in Scotland County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hitt
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Savannah. See our List of 1890's Communities around Savannah.
Newspapers Published in Savannah ...
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 38 newspapers that have been published in the area around Savannah.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Savannah, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Savannah.
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 Savannah:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Davis County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Appanoose County
- Jefferson County
- Monroe County
- Van Buren County
- Wapello County
- Adair County
- Knox County
- Putnam County
- Schuyler County
- Scotland 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> | 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- Savannah) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <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 Savannah, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |