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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 Scotch Ridge (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 Scotch Ridge. 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 Scotch Ridge ...

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.

For example, a typical abbreviation for Scotch Ridge: Scotch Rdg. (or less commonly used: Scotch Rdge. or Scotch Ridg.)

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

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

Scotch Ridge is located in Warren 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 Warren County: Clarke, Dallas, Lucas, Madison, Marion & Polk.

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

  • Warren County     (The home county of Scotch Ridge)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Scotch Ridge, with the one closest to Scotch Ridge listed first.
    • Palmyra
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • Palmyra is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmyra
    • Spring Hill
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Spring Hill is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Hill
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 65 people
    • Lakewood
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
      • Lakewood is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood
    • Indianola
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Hartford
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Ackworth
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Ackworth is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ackworth
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 105 people
    • Prole
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Prole is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prole
    • Orillia
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Orillia is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orillia
    • Cumming
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Clarkson ‑ Historic
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Clarkson is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarkson
    • Sandyville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Sandyville is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandyville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 54 people
    • Churchville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Churchville is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Churchville
    • Martensdale
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Boone County
    • Madrid
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Clarke County
    • Liberty
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Liberty is located in Clarke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty
  • Dallas County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Scotch Ridge, with the one closest to Scotch Ridge listed first.
    • Booneville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Waukee
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Van Meter
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • DeSoto
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Granger
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Dallas Center
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Adel
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Adel is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adel
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,607 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Adel <1>
    • High Bridge
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • High Bridge is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High Bridge
  • Jasper County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Scotch Ridge, with the one closest to Scotch Ridge listed first.
    • Vandalia
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Vandalia is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vandalia
    • Prairie City
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Oswalt
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Oswalt is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oswalt
    • Colfax
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Valeria
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Valeria is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valeria
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 58 people
    • Monroe
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Green Castle
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Green Castle is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Castle
    • Mingo
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Goddard
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Goddard is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goddard
    • Metz
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Metz is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Metz
    • Ira
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Ira is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ira
    • Reasnor
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Reasnor is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reasnor
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 156 people
    • Clyde
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Clyde is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clyde
  • Lucas County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Scotch Ridge, with the one closest to Scotch Ridge listed first.
    • Lucas
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Lucas is located in Lucas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucas
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 207 people
    • Williamson
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Madison County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Scotch Ridge, with the one closest to Scotch Ridge listed first.
    • Patterson
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Patterson is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 163 people
    • Saint Charles
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Truro
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • East Peru
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • East Peru is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Peru
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 133 people
    • Winterset
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Earlham
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Ord
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Ord is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ord
  • Marion County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Scotch Ridge, with the one closest to Scotch Ridge listed first.
    • Swan
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Swan is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swan
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 74 people
    • Percy ‑ Historic
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Percy is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Percy
    • Pleasantville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Bauer
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Bauer is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bauer
    • Melcher - Dallas
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Melcher - Dallas is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melcher - Dallas
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,236 people
    • Cordova
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Cordova is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cordova
    • Knoxville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Newbern
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Newbern is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newbern
    • Otley
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Columbia
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Columbia is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbia
  • Polk County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Scotch Ridge, with the one closest to Scotch Ridge listed first.
    • Carlisle
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Levey
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
      • Levey is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Levey
    • Norwalk
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Adelphi
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Adelphi is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adelphi
    • Pleasant Hill
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Des Moines
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Rising Sun
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Rising Sun is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rising Sun
    • Runnells
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Country Estate Village
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Commerce
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Commerce is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Commerce
    • Altoona
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • West Des Moines
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Windsor Heights
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Story County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Scotch Ridge, with the one closest to Scotch Ridge listed first.
    • Slater
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Cambridge
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Huxley
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Maxwell
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)

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

Cemeteries Near Scotch Ridge ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Scotch Ridge.

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 Scotch Ridge - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Scotch Ridge Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • North River Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Elm Grove Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Carlisle Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Ft. Des Moines Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Laverty Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Middle River Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Avon Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Sunset Memorial Gardens
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Webb Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Palmyra Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Oakwood Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (311 more) ...
    • Oak Grove Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Linn Grove Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Indianola City Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)

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 Scotch Ridge in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Scotch Ridge.

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

  • Summerset
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
    • Summerset is located in Warren County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summerset
  • Carlisle
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Avon
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Avon is located in Polk County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avon
  • Levey
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Levey is located in Polk County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Levey
  • Spring Hill
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Spring Hill is located in Warren County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Hill
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 65 people
  • Palmyra
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Palmyra is located in Warren County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmyra
  • East Des Moines
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • East Des Moines is located in Polk County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Des Moines
  • Norwalk
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Indianola
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Adelphi
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Adelphi is located in Polk County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adelphi
  • Hastie
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Hastie is located in Polk County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hastie
  • Ackworth
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Ackworth is located in Warren County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ackworth
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 105 people
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Hartford
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Ford
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Ford is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ford
    • Prole
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Prole is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prole

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

Newspapers Published in Scotch Ridge ...

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 26 newspapers that have been published in the area around Scotch Ridge.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Scotch Ridge, there are papers which were published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Scotch Ridge.

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 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 Scotch Ridge:

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