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 Solon (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 Solon. 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 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 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.
Solon is located in Johnson 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 Johnson County: Benton, Cedar, Iowa, Linn, Louisa, Muscatine & Washington.
Below are the counties that are near Solon. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Solon:
- Johnson County (The home county of Solon)
- The following are listed by their distance from Solon, with the one closest to Solon listed first.
- Morse
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Morse is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morse
- Elmira
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Elmira is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmira
- North Liberty
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Oakdale
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Oakdale is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakdale
- Shueyville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Shueyville is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shueyville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 655 people
- Oasis
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Oasis is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oasis
- Coralville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Cou Falls
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Cou Falls is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cou Falls
- Iowa City
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- University Heights
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- University Heights is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for University Heights
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,025 people
- Swisher
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Tiffin
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Benton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Solon, with the one closest to Solon listed first.
- Atkins
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Norway
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Watkins
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Watkins is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watkins
- Newhall
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Shellsburg
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Blairstown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Cedar County
- The following are listed by their distance from Solon, with the one closest to Solon listed first.
- Cedar Bluff
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Cedar Bluff is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Bluff
- West Branch
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Buchanan
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Buchanan is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buchanan
- Mechanicsville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Mechanicsville is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mechanicsville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,116 people
- Cedar Valley
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Cedar Valley is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Valley
- Centerdale
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Centerdale is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerdale
- Downey
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Downey is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Downey
- Springdale
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Springdale is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springdale
- Stanwood
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Tipton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Rochester
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Rochester is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rochester
- Clarence
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Iowa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Solon, with the one closest to Solon listed first.
- Amana
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Middle Amana
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- West Amana
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- West Amana is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Amana
- South Amana
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Conroy
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Conroy is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conroy
- Williamsburg
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Marengo
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Parnell
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Jones County
- The following are listed by their distance from Solon, with the one closest to Solon listed first.
- Martelle
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Martelle is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martelle
- Population from the 2020 Census: 246 people
- Morley
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Morley is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 110 people
- Fairview
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Fairview is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
- Stone City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Stone City is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stone City
- Olin
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Anamosa
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Hale
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Hale is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hale
- Amber
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Amber is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amber
- Center Junction
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Center Junction is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Center Junction
- Estimated population in 2015: 111 people
- Langworthy
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Langworthy is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langworthy
- Oxford Mills
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Oxford Mills is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oxford Mills
- Oxford Junction
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Oxford Junction is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oxford Junction
- Population from the 2020 Census: 480 people
- Linn County
- The following are listed by their distance from Solon, with the one closest to Solon listed first.
- Ely
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Mount Vernon
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Western
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Western is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Western
- Lisbon
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Bertram
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Bertram is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bertram
- Population from the 2020 Census: 278 people
- Lincolnway Village
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Lincolnway Village is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lincolnway Village
- Cedar Rapids
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Marion
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Squaw Creek Village
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Squaw Creek Village is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Squaw Creek Village
- Cedar Hills
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Cedar Hills is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Hills
- Fairfax
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Grand View Village
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Grand View Village is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grand View Village
- Louisa County
- Gladwin
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Gladwin is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gladwin
- Muscatine County
- The following are listed by their distance from Solon, with the one closest to Solon listed first.
- West Liberty
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Atalissa
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Nichols
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Nichols is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nichols
- Population from the 2020 Census: 358 people
- Moscow
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Moscow is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moscow
- Wilton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- South Towne Park
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- South Towne Park is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Towne Park
- Conesville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Conesville is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conesville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 427 people
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Solon, with the one closest to Solon listed first.
- Riverside
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Kalona
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Wellman
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Solon, see our County-by-County Page for Solon.
Cemeteries Near Solon ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Solon.
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 Solon - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Solon covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Solon, with the one closest to Solon listed first.
- St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Oakland Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Facklers Grove Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- St. Peter & Pauls Catholic Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Newport Twp. Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- St. Mary's Newport Catholic Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. Mary's Newport Catholic Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the St. Mary's Newport Catholic Cemetery is located 5 miles [8 km]<3> to the north of Iowa City.
- The St. Mary's Newport Catholic Cemetery has also been known as:
- St. Marys Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2429528 <2>
- Sutliff Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Alt Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alt Cemetery
- The Alt Cemetery has also been known as:
- Wein Burying Ground
- Wein Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2140588 <2>
- Morse Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Ivanhoe Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Ridgewood Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Rogers Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (350 more) ...
- St. Bridgets Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Sulek Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Buresh Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
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 Solon had a population of 353 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Solon had a population of 2,771 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Solon, with the one closest to Solon listed first.
- Morse
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Morse is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morse
- Elmira
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Elmira is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmira
- Ely
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- North Liberty
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Mount Vernon
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Shueyville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Shueyville is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shueyville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 655 people
- Coralville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Graham ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Graham is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graham
- Oasis
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Oasis is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oasis
- Cedar Bluff
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Cedar Bluff is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Bluff
- Lisbon
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Bertram
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Bertram is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bertram
- Population from the 2020 Census: 278 people
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Iowa City
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Plato
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Plato is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plato
- Tiffin
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Solon. See our List of 1890's Communities around Solon.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Solon ...
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 192 newspapers that have been published in the area around Solon.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Solon. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Solon and those printed in the larger area surrounding Solon.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3> of Solon.
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 Solon:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Johnson County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Benton County
- Cedar County
- Iowa County
- Jones County
- Linn County
- Louisa County
- Muscatine County
- Washington 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> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Solon) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <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 Solon, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |