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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 Sheffield (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 Sheffield. 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 and hospitals 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.

Sheffield is located in Franklin 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 Franklin County: Butler, Cerro Gordo, Hardin & Wright.

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

  • Franklin County     (The home county of Sheffield)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sheffield, with the one closest to Sheffield listed first.
    • Chapin
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • Chapin is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapin
    • Hampton
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Hansell
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Latimer
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Coulter
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Coulter is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coulter
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 261 people
    • Alexander
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Alexander is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alexander
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 159 people
    • Geneva
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Reeve
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Reeve is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reeve
    • Bradford
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Bradford is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradford
    • Faulkner
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Faulkner is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Faulkner
    • Popejoy
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Popejoy is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Popejoy
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 74 people
    • Oakland
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Oakland is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland
  • Butler County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sheffield, with the one closest to Sheffield listed first.
    • Aredale
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Dumont
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Bristow
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Bristow is located in Butler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bristow
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 147 people
    • Greene
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Kesley
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Kesley is located in Butler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kesley
    • Allison
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Austinville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Austinville is located in Butler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Austinville
    • Butler Center
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Butler Center is located in Butler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butler Center
    • Aplington
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Clarksville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Coster
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Coster is located in Butler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coster
  • Cerro Gordo County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sheffield, with the one closest to Sheffield listed first.
    • Rockwell
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Swaledale
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Swaledale is located in Cerro Gordo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swaledale
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 157 people
    • Dougherty
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Dougherty is located in Cerro Gordo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dougherty
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 56 people
    • Cartersville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Cartersville is located in Cerro Gordo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cartersville
    • Thornton
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Thornton is located in Cerro Gordo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thornton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 401 people
    • Burchinal
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Burchinal is located in Cerro Gordo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burchinal
    • Cameron
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Cameron is located in Cerro Gordo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cameron
    • Meservey
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Meservey is located in Cerro Gordo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meservey
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 237 people
    • Mason City Junction
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Mason City Junction is located in Cerro Gordo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mason City Junction
    • Portland
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Portland is located in Cerro Gordo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Portland
    • Mason City
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Clear Lake
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Ventura
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Floyd County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sheffield, with the one closest to Sheffield listed first.
    • Aureola
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Aureola is located in Floyd County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aureola
    • Marble Rock
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Rockford
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Nora Springs
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Roseville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Roseville is located in Floyd County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roseville
    • Rudd
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Oakwood
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Oakwood is located in Floyd County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood
    • Floyd
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Charles City
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Hancock County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sheffield, with the one closest to Sheffield listed first.
    • Goodell
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Goodell is located in Hancock County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 126 people
    • Klemme
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Garner
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Duncan
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Duncan is located in Hancock County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duncan
    • Kanawha
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
  • Hardin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sheffield, with the one closest to Sheffield listed first.
    • Ackley
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Iowa Falls
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Alden
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Robertson
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Robertson is located in Hardin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robertson
    • Abbott
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Abbott is located in Hardin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abbott
    • Eagle City
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Eagle City is located in Hardin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagle City
    • Cleves
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Cleves is located in Hardin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cleves
  • Mitchell County
    • Rock Creek
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Rock Creek is located in Mitchell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Creek
  • Worth County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sheffield, with the one closest to Sheffield listed first.
    • Manly
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Fertile
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Hanlontown
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Hanlontown is located in Worth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanlontown
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
    • Grafton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Wright County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sheffield, with the one closest to Sheffield listed first.
    • Rowan
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Belmond
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Dows
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Solberg ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Solberg is located in Wright County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Solberg
    • Galt
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Cornelia
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Cornelia is located in Wright County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornelia
    • Olaf
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Olaf is located in Wright County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olaf
    • Clarion
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)

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

Cemeteries Near Sheffield ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Sheffield.

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 Sheffield - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

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 Sheffield had a population of 610 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Sheffield had a population of 1,096 people.

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

  • Chapin
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Chapin is located in Franklin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapin
  • Rockwell
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Swaledale
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Swaledale is located in Cerro Gordo County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swaledale
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 157 people
  • Thornton
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Thornton is located in Cerro Gordo County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thornton
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 401 people
  • Hampton
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
  • Hansell
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Latimer
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Aredale
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
  • Burchinal
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Burchinal is located in Cerro Gordo County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burchinal
  • Cameron
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Cameron is located in Cerro Gordo County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cameron
  • Alexander
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Alexander is located in Franklin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alexander
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 159 people
  • Reeve
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Reeve is located in Franklin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reeve
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Geneva
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Dumont
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Mason City Junction
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Mason City Junction is located in Cerro Gordo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mason City Junction

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Sheffield ...

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 30 newspapers that have been published in the area around Sheffield.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Sheffield. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Sheffield and those printed in the larger area surrounding Sheffield.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<4> of Sheffield.

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 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 Sheffield:

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 Sheffield, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Sheffield) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.