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 Stratford (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 Stratford. 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.
Stratford is primarily located in Hamilton County. A portion of Stratford extends into Webster 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 Hamilton County: Boone, Franklin, Hardin, Story, Webster & Wright.
Below are the counties that are near Stratford. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Stratford:
- Hamilton County (The home county of Stratford)
- The following are listed by their distance from Stratford, with the one closest to Stratford listed first.
- Stanhope
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Stanhope is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stanhope
- Population from the 2020 Census: 394 people
- Kamrar
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Jewell
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Jewell is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jewell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,138 people
- Jewell has also been known as:
- Jewell Junction
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Jewell <1>
- Webster City
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Randall
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Randall is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Randall
- Population from the 2020 Census: 166 people
- Ellsworth
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Blairsburg
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Blairsburg is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blairsburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 199 people
- Williams
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Boone County
- The following are listed by their distance from Stratford, with the one closest to Stratford listed first.
- Pilot Mound
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Pilot Mound is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pilot Mound
- Population from the 2020 Census: 170 people
- Fraser
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Fraser is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fraser
- Population from the 2020 Census: 103 people
- Mackey
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Mackey is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mackey
- Boxholm
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Centerville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Centerville is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
- Boone
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Ogden
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Jordan
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Jordan is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jordan
- Moingona
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Moingona is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moingona
- Beaver
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Beaver is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver
- Population from the 2020 Census: 50 people
- Luther
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Luther is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Luther
- Population from the 2020 Census: 133 people
- Berkley
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Berkley is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berkley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 33 people
- Calhoun County
- The following are listed by their distance from Stratford, with the one closest to Stratford listed first.
- Farnhamville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Farnhamville is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farnhamville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 335 people
- Somers
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Somers is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Somers
- Population from the 2020 Census: 102 people
- Rinard
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Rinard is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rinard
- Population from the 2020 Census: 48 people
- Knierim
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Knierim is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knierim
- Population from the 2020 Census: 57 people
- Dallas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Stratford, with the one closest to Stratford listed first.
- Woodward
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Xenia
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Xenia is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Xenia
- Bouton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Greene County
- The following are listed by their distance from Stratford, with the one closest to Stratford listed first.
- Paton
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Dana
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Dana is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dana
- Population from the 2020 Census: 67 people
- Grand Junction
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Rippey
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Rippey is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rippey
- Population from the 2020 Census: 269 people
- Jefferson
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Farlin
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Farlin is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farlin
- Churdan
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Churdan is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Churdan
- Population from the 2020 Census: 363 people
- Hardin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Stratford, with the one closest to Stratford listed first.
- Radcliffe
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Garden City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Garden City is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden City
- Sherman
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Sherman is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherman
- Buckeye
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Buckeye is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckeye
- Population from the 2020 Census: 107 people
- Humboldt County
- Thor
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Polk County
- Sheldahl
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Sheldahl is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheldahl
- Population from the 2020 Census: 325 people
- Story County
- The following are listed by their distance from Stratford, with the one closest to Stratford listed first.
- Zenorsville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Zenorsville is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zenorsville
- Story City
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Gilbert
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Ontario
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Ontario is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ontario
- Roland
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Roland is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,252 people
- Ames
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Kelley
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- McCallsburg
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- McCallsburg is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCallsburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 320 people
- Midvale
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Midvale is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midvale
- Nevada
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Shipley
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Shipley is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shipley
- Slater
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Webster County
- The following are listed by their distance from Stratford, with the one closest to Stratford listed first.
- Dayton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Lehigh
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Border Plains
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Border Plains is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Border Plains
- Burnside
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Burnside is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnside
- Brushy
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Brushy is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brushy
- Harcourt
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Harcourt is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harcourt
- Population from the 2020 Census: 278 people
- Evanston
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Evanston is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evanston
- Palm Grove
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Palm Grove is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palm Grove
- Duncombe
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Lanyon
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Lanyon is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lanyon
- Coalville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Coalville is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coalville
- Kalo
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Kalo is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kalo
- Wright County
- The following are listed by their distance from Stratford, with the one closest to Stratford listed first.
- Woolstock
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Woolstock is located in Wright County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woolstock
- Population from the 2020 Census: 159 people
- Eagle Grove
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Stratford, see our County-by-County Page for Stratford.
Cemeteries Near Stratford ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Stratford.
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 Stratford - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Stratford covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Stratford, with the one closest to Stratford listed first.
- Oakwood Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Hooks Point Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Hardin Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Vegars Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- South Marion Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Neese Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Low Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Bethel Owen Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- McGuire Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- White Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Mineral Ridge Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Homer Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Continue List (207 more) ...
- Shafer - Gear Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Hartman Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Dayton Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
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 Stratford had a population of 399 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Stratford had a population of 692 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Stratford, with the one closest to Stratford listed first.
- Stanhope
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Stanhope is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stanhope
- Population from the 2020 Census: 394 people
- Homer
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Homer is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Homer
- Dayton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Pilot Mound
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Pilot Mound is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pilot Mound
- Population from the 2020 Census: 170 people
- Lehigh
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Border Plains
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Border Plains is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Border Plains
- Burnside
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Burnside is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnside
- Boxholm
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Brushy
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Brushy is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brushy
- Mackey
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Mackey is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mackey
- Rosendale
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Rosendale is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosendale
- Harcourt
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Harcourt is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harcourt
- Population from the 2020 Census: 278 people
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Flugstad ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Flugstad is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flugstad
- Evanston
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Evanston is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evanston
- Kamrar
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Stratford. See our List of 1890's Communities around Stratford.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Stratford ...
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 106 newspapers that have been published in the area around Stratford.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Stratford. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Stratford and those printed in the larger area surrounding Stratford.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<4> of Stratford.
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 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 Stratford:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Hamilton County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Boone County
- Calhoun County
- Dallas County
- Greene County
- Hardin County
- Humboldt County
- Polk County
- Story County
- Webster County
- Wright 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 Stratford, 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- Stratford) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |