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 Smyrna (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 Smyrna. 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 and hospitals 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.
Smyrna is located in Clarke 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 Clarke County: Decatur, Lucas, Madison, Ringgold, Union, Warren & Wayne.
Below are the counties that are near Smyrna. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Smyrna:
- Clarke County (The home county of Smyrna)
- The following are listed by their distance from Smyrna, with the one closest to Smyrna listed first.
- Woodburn
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Weldon
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Weldon is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weldon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 104 people
- Green Bay ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Green Bay is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Bay
- Osceola
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Lacelle
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Lacelle is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacelle
- Liberty
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Liberty is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty
- Murray
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Murray is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murray
- Population from the 2020 Census: 681 people
- Hopeville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Hopeville is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopeville
- Decatur County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smyrna, with the one closest to Smyrna listed first.
- Le Roy
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Le Roy is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Le Roy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 14 people
- Garden Grove
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Garden Grove is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 200 people
- Van Wert
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Van Wert is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Van Wert
- Population from the 2020 Census: 208 people
- Leon
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Woodland
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Woodland is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland
- Decatur City
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Decatur City is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Decatur City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 181 people
- Grand River
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Grand River is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grand River
- Population from the 2020 Census: 215 people
- Morgan
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Morgan is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan
- Davis City
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Davis City is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 187 people
- Pleasanton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Pleasanton is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasanton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 44 people
- Lamoni
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Lucas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smyrna, with the one closest to Smyrna listed first.
- Derby
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Derby is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Derby
- Population from the 2020 Census: 111 people
- Lucas
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Lucas is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucas
- Population from the 2020 Census: 207 people
- Chariton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Williamson
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Russell
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Olmitz
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Olmitz is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olmitz
- Zero
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Zero is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zero
- Madison County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smyrna, with the one closest to Smyrna listed first.
- Truro
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Barney
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Barney is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barney
- East Peru
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- East Peru is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Peru
- Population from the 2020 Census: 133 people
- Saint Charles
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smyrna, with the one closest to Smyrna listed first.
- Newbern
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Newbern is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newbern
- Bauer
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Bauer is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bauer
- Melcher - Dallas
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Melcher - Dallas is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melcher - Dallas
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,236 people
- Columbia
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Columbia is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbia
- Monroe County
- Melrose
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Ringgold County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smyrna, with the one closest to Smyrna listed first.
- Beaconsfield
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Beaconsfield is located in Ringgold County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaconsfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 15 people
- Ellston
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Ellston is located in Ringgold County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellston
- Population from the 2020 Census: 38 people
- Kellerton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Union County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smyrna, with the one closest to Smyrna listed first.
- Thayer
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Thayer is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thayer
- Population from the 2020 Census: 58 people
- Lorimor
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Lorimor is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lorimor
- Population from the 2020 Census: 341 people
- Warren County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smyrna, with the one closest to Smyrna listed first.
- New Virginia
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Liberty Center
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Liberty Center is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty Center
- Cool
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Cool is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cool
- Lacona
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Milo
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Saint Marys
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Saint Marys is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Marys
- Population from the 2020 Census: 127 people
- Clarkson ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Clarkson is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarkson
- Indianola
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Ackworth
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Ackworth is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ackworth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 105 people
- Bevington
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Martensdale
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Wayne County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smyrna, with the one closest to Smyrna listed first.
- Humeston
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Millerton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Millerton is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millerton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 42 people
- Corydon
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Allerton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Hodge
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Hodge is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hodge
- Clio
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Clio is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clio
- Population from the 2020 Census: 73 people
- Lineville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Lineville is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lineville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 217 people
- Confidence
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Confidence is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Confidence
- Promise City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Promise City is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Promise City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 110 people
- Mercer County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Smyrna, with the one closest to Smyrna listed first.
- South Lineville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- South Lineville is located in Mercer County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Lineville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 27 people
- Burrows
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Burrows is located in Mercer County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burrows
- Mercer
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Smyrna, see our County-by-County Page for Smyrna.
Cemeteries Near Smyrna ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Smyrna.
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 Smyrna - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Smyrna covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Smyrna, with the one closest to Smyrna listed first.
- Smyrna Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Clarke Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Blair Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Horton Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Last Chance Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Hebron Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Metier Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Lewis Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Woodburn Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Chaney Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Doze Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Gwinn Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (311 more) ...
- Ottawa Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- St. Marys Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Winters Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 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.<2>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Smyrna had a population of 45 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Smyrna, with the one closest to Smyrna listed first.
- Le Roy
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Le Roy is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Le Roy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 14 people
- Woodburn
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Weldon
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Weldon is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weldon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 104 people
- Garden Grove
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Garden Grove is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 200 people
- Green Bay ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Green Bay is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Bay
- Humeston
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Derby
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Derby is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Derby
- Population from the 2020 Census: 111 people
- Lucas
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Lucas is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucas
- Population from the 2020 Census: 207 people
- Leslie
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Leslie is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leslie
- Van Wert
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Van Wert is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Van Wert
- Population from the 2020 Census: 208 people
- Osceola
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Groveland ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Groveland is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Groveland
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Jay
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Jay is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jay
- High Point
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- High Point is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High Point
- Cambria
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Cambria is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cambria
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Smyrna. See our List of 1890's Communities around Smyrna.
Newspapers Published in Smyrna ...
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 115 newspapers that have been published in the area around Smyrna.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Smyrna, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Smyrna.
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 professional and volunteer 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 Smyrna:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Clarke County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Decatur County
- Lucas County
- Madison County
- Marion County
- Monroe County
- Ringgold County
- Union County
- Warren County
- Wayne County
- Mercer 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> | 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 Smyrna, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | 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- Smyrna) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |