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 Sibley (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 Sibley. 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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals 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.
Sibley is located in Osceola County and is the County Seat.
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 Osceola County: Dickinson, Lyon, O'Brien, Jackson (MN) & Nobles (MN).
Below are the counties that are near Sibley. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Sibley:
- Osceola County (The home county of Sibley)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sibley, with the one closest to Sibley listed first.
- Cloverdale
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Cloverdale is located in Osceola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cloverdale
- Allendorf
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Allendorf is located in Osceola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allendorf
- Ashton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Ocheyedan
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Ocheyedan is located in Osceola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ocheyedan
- Population from the 2020 Census: 463 people
- Melvin
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Melvin is located in Osceola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melvin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 197 people
- May City
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- May City is located in Osceola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for May City
- Harris
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Harris is located in Osceola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris
- Population from the 2020 Census: 158 people
- Clay County
- Everly
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Everly is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Everly
- Population from the 2020 Census: 541 people
- Dickinson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sibley, with the one closest to Sibley listed first.
- Lake Park
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Wahpeton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Wahpeton is located in Dickinson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wahpeton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 353 people
- Okoboji
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- West Okoboji
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- West Okoboji is located in Dickinson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Okoboji
- Population from the 2020 Census: 303 people
- Milford
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Old Town
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Old Town is located in Dickinson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Town
- Lyon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sibley, with the one closest to Sibley listed first.
- Little Rock
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- George
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Edna
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Edna is located in Lyon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edna
- Rock Rapids
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Doon
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Alvord
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Lester
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Lester is located in Lyon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lester
- Population from the 2020 Census: 303 people
- O'Brien County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sibley, with the one closest to Sibley listed first.
- Sanborn
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Sheldon
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Archer
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Hartley
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Hartley is located in O'Brien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,556 people
- Primghar
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Moneta
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Moneta is located in O'Brien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moneta
- Paullina
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Paullina is located in O'Brien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paullina
- Population from the 2020 Census: 965 people
- Germantown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Germantown is located in O'Brien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Germantown
- Sioux County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sibley, with the one closest to Sibley listed first.
- Matlock
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Boyden
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Boyden is located in Sioux County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyden
- Population from the 2020 Census: 682 people
- Hospers
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Hull
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Middleburg
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Middleburg is located in Sioux County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middleburg
- Perkins
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Perkins is located in Sioux County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perkins
- Granville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Granville is located in Sioux County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 303 people
- Sioux Center
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Jackson County (MN)
- Sioux Valley
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Sioux Valley is located in Jackson County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sioux Valley
- Nobles County (MN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sibley, with the one closest to Sibley listed first.
- Bigelow
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Bigelow is located in Nobles County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bigelow
- Population from the 2020 Census: 226 people
- Ransom
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Ransom is located in Nobles County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ransom
- Org
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Org is located in Nobles County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Org
- Rushmore
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Rushmore is located in Nobles County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rushmore
- Population from the 2020 Census: 334 people
- Round Lake
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Ellsworth
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Worthington
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Adrian
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Reading
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Reading is located in Nobles County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reading
- Brewster
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Brewster is located in Nobles County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brewster
- Population from the 2020 Census: 466 people
- Wilmont
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Lismore
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Lismore is located in Nobles County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lismore
- Population from the 2020 Census: 218 people
- Rock County (MN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sibley, with the one closest to Sibley listed first.
- Kanaranzi
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Magnolia
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Magnolia is located in Rock County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnolia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 208 people
- Ash Creek
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Ash Creek is located in Rock County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ash Creek
- Steen
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Steen is located in Rock County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steen
- Population from the 2020 Census: 164 people
- Kenneth
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Kenneth is located in Rock County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenneth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 66 people
- Luverne
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Sibley, see our County-by-County Page for Sibley.
Cemeteries Near Sibley ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Sibley.
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 Sibley - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Sibley covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Sibley, with the one closest to Sibley listed first.
- Holman Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holman Cemetery
- The Holman Cemetery has also been known as:
- Holman Twp. Cemetery
- St. Andrews Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #95095 <2>
- Hope German Presbyterian Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Wilson Twp. Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- North Sibley Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Gilman Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- St. Marys Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Goewey Twp. Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Pleasant View Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Grant Twp. Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Zoar Presbyterian Church Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Zion Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Emmanuel Presbyterian Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Continue List (110 more) ...
- Sunrise Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Ransom Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Norwegian Lutheran Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 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 Sibley had a population of 1,090 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Sibley had a population of 2,586 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Sibley, with the one closest to Sibley listed first.
- Ashton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Bigelow
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Bigelow is located in Nobles County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bigelow
- Population from the 2020 Census: 226 people
- Little Rock
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Ocheyedan
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Ocheyedan is located in Osceola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ocheyedan
- Population from the 2020 Census: 463 people
- Ritter
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Ritter is located in O'Brien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ritter
- George
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Org
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Org is located in Nobles County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Org
- Matlock
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- May City
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- May City is located in Osceola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for May City
- Rushmore
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Rushmore is located in Nobles County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rushmore
- Population from the 2020 Census: 334 people
- Sanborn
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Harris
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Harris is located in Osceola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris
- Population from the 2020 Census: 158 people
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Sheldon
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Round Lake
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Ellsworth
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Sibley. See our List of 1890's Communities around Sibley.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Sibley ...
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 121 newspapers that have been published in the area around Sibley.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Sibley. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Sibley and those printed in the larger area surrounding Sibley.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4> of Sibley.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we begin 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 Sibley:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Osceola County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clay County
- Dickinson County
- Lyon County
- O'Brien County
- Sioux County
- Jackson County
- Nobles County
- Rock 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 Sibley, 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 from Point A (ie- Sibley) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |