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 South Ridge Estates (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 South Ridge Estates. 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 South Ridge Estates ...
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.
For example, a typical abbreviation for South Ridge Estates: S. Ridge Ests.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named South Ridge Estates. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for South Ridge Estates.
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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors 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.
South Ridge Estates is located in Polk 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 Polk County: Boone, Dallas, Jasper, Madison, Marion, Story & Warren.
Below are the counties that are near South Ridge Estates. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to South Ridge Estates:
- Polk County (The home county of South Ridge Estates)
- The following are listed by their distance from South Ridge Estates, with the one closest to South Ridge Estates listed first.
- Levey
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Levey is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Levey
- Norwalk
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Carlisle
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Des Moines
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Pleasant Hill
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Country Estate Village
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Rising Sun
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Rising Sun is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rising Sun
- Windsor Heights
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Commerce
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Commerce is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Commerce
- Adelphi
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Adelphi is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adelphi
- Marquisville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Marquisville is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marquisville
- West Des Moines
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Altoona
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Boone County
- Madrid
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Clarke County
- Liberty
(25 miles [40.2 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 South Ridge Estates, with the one closest to South Ridge Estates listed first.
- Booneville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Waukee
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Van Meter
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Granger
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- DeSoto
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Dallas Center
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Adel
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- High Bridge
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- High Bridge is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High Bridge
- Minburn
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Minburn is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minburn
- Population from the 2020 Census: 357 people
- Panther
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Panther is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panther
- Woodward
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Xenia
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Xenia is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Xenia
- Wiscotta
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Wiscotta is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wiscotta
- Jasper County
- The following are listed by their distance from South Ridge Estates, with the one closest to South Ridge Estates listed first.
- Vandalia
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Vandalia is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vandalia
- Prairie City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Oswalt
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Oswalt is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oswalt
- Valeria
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Valeria is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valeria
- Population from the 2020 Census: 58 people
- Colfax
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Green Castle
(23 miles [37 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)
- Monroe
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Goddard
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Goddard is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goddard
- Metz
(26 miles [41.8 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
- Clyde
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Clyde is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clyde
- Lambs Grove
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Lambs Grove is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lambs Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 165 people
- Madison County
- The following are listed by their distance from South Ridge Estates, with the one closest to South Ridge Estates 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
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Winterset
(24 miles [38.6 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
- Earlham
(26 miles [41.8 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 South Ridge Estates, with the one closest to South Ridge Estates listed first.
- Swan
(15 miles [24.1 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
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Percy is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Percy
- Pleasantville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Cordova
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Cordova is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cordova
- Bauer
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Bauer is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bauer
- Melcher - Dallas
(27 miles [43.5 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
- Newbern
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Newbern is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newbern
- Otley
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Knoxville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Story County
- The following are listed by their distance from South Ridge Estates, with the one closest to South Ridge Estates listed first.
- Slater
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Cambridge
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Huxley
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Maxwell
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Midvale
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Midvale is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midvale
- Iowa Center
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Iowa Center is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iowa Center
- Kelley
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Collins
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Collins is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collins
- Population from the 2020 Census: 472 people
- Warren County
- The following are listed by their distance from South Ridge Estates, with the one closest to South Ridge Estates listed first.
- Lakewood
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Lakewood is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood
- Orillia
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Orillia is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orillia
- Spring Hill
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Spring Hill is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 65 people
- Cumming
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Prole
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Prole is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prole
- Hartford
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Indianola
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Palmyra
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Palmyra is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmyra
- 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)
- Ackworth
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Ackworth is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ackworth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 105 people
- Clarkson ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Clarkson is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarkson
- Bevington
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to South Ridge Estates, see our County-by-County Page for South Ridge Estates.
Cemeteries Near South Ridge Estates ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of South Ridge Estates.
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 South Ridge Estates - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for South Ridge Estates covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from South Ridge Estates, with the one closest to South Ridge Estates listed first.
- Ft. Des Moines Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Elm Grove Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Sunset Memorial Gardens
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Scotch Ridge Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Avon Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avon Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Avon Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the southeast of Des Moines.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #94191 <2>
- Oak Grove Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- North River Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- St. Ambrose Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Emmanuel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Woodland Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Webb Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Carlisle Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Continue List (305 more) ...
- Oakwood Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Laurel Hill Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Sims Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
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 South Ridge Estates in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of South Ridge Estates.
These communities are listed based on their distance from South Ridge Estates, with the one closest to South Ridge Estates listed first.
- Norwalk
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Avon
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Avon is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avon
- Levey
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Levey is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Levey
- East Des Moines
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- East Des Moines is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Des Moines
- Carlisle
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Des Moines
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Summerset
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Summerset is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summerset
- Hastie
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Hastie is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hastie
- Valley Junction
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Valley Junction is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley Junction
- Orillia
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Orillia is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orillia
- Spring Hill
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Spring Hill is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 65 people
- Cumming
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Rising Sun
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Rising Sun is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rising Sun
- Ashawa
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Ashawa is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashawa
- Commerce
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Commerce is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Commerce
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around South Ridge Estates. See our List of 1890's Communities around South Ridge Estates.
Newspapers Published in South Ridge Estates ...
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 38 newspapers that have been published in the area around South Ridge Estates.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of South Ridge Estates, there are papers which were published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for South Ridge Estates.
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 South Ridge Estates:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Polk County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Boone County
- Clarke County
- Dallas County
- Jasper County
- Madison County
- Marion County
- Story County
- Warren 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 South Ridge Estates, 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- South Ridge Estates) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |