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 Summit (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 Summit. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
Summit is located in Muscatine 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 Muscatine County: Cedar, Johnson, Louisa, Scott & Rock Island (IL).
Below are the counties that are near Summit. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Summit:
- Muscatine County (The home county of Summit)
- The following are listed by their distance from Summit, with the one closest to Summit listed first.
- South Towne Park
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- South Towne Park is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Towne Park
- Wilton
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Moscow
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Moscow is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moscow
- Muscatine
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Pleasant Prairie
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Pleasant Prairie is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Prairie
- Fairport
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Fairport is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairport
- Pine Mills ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Pine Mills is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Mills
- Atalissa
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Midway Beach
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Midway Beach is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway Beach
- Stockton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Stockton is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stockton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 189 people
- Fruitland
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Fruitland is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fruitland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 966 people
- West Liberty
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Cedar County
- The following are listed by their distance from Summit, with the one closest to Summit listed first.
- Lime City
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Lime City is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lime City
- Former names for Lime City:
- Lime Kilns
- Munn
- Sunbury
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Sunbury is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunbury
- Rochester
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Rochester is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rochester
- Bennett
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Bennett is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bennett
- Population from the 2020 Census: 373 people
- Springdale
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Springdale is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springdale
- Centerdale
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Centerdale is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerdale
- Tipton
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Downey
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Downey is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Downey
- Cedar Valley
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Cedar Valley is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Valley
- West Branch
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Buchanan
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Buchanan is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buchanan
- Cedar Bluff
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Cedar Bluff is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Bluff
- Clinton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Summit, with the one closest to Summit listed first.
- Wheatland
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Wheatland is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheatland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 724 people
- Calamus
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Calamus is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calamus
- Population from the 2020 Census: 397 people
- Toronto
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Toronto is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toronto
- Population from the 2020 Census: 119 people
- Grand Mound
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Johnson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Summit, with the one closest to Summit listed first.
- Lone Tree
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Oasis
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Oasis is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oasis
- Midway ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Midway is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
- River Junction
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- River Junction is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for River Junction
- Elmira
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Elmira is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmira
- Hills
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Morse
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Morse is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morse
- Iowa City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- University Heights
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- University Heights is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for University Heights
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,025 people
- Louisa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Summit, with the one closest to Summit listed first.
- Letts
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Grandview
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Grandview is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grandview
- Population from the 2020 Census: 519 people
- Fredonia
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Fredonia is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fredonia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
- Columbus Junction
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Wapello
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Wapello is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wapello
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,999 people
- Gladwin
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Gladwin is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gladwin
- Columbus City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Columbus City is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbus City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 371 people
- Cotter
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Cotter is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cotter
- Population from the 2020 Census: 42 people
- Elrick Junction
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Elrick Junction is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elrick Junction
- Oakville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Morning Sun
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Scott County
- The following are listed by their distance from Summit, with the one closest to Summit listed first.
- Durant
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Blue Grass
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Buffalo
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Walcott
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- New Liberty
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- New Liberty is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Liberty
- Population from the 2020 Census: 143 people
- Hickory Grove
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Hickory Grove is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Grove
- Maysville
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Maysville is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maysville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 181 people
- Big Rock
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Big Rock is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Rock
- Dixon
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Dixon is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dixon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 249 people
- Donahue
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Davenport
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Eldridge
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Washington County
- Riverside
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Mercer County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Summit, with the one closest to Summit listed first.
- Eliza
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Eliza is located in Mercer County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eliza
- Petersville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Petersville is located in Mercer County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petersville
- Marston
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Marston is located in Mercer County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marston
- Mannon
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Mannon is located in Mercer County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mannon
- Joy
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Joy is located in Mercer County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 377 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Joy <1>
- New Boston
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Aledo
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Preemption
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Matherville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Keithsburg
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Shale City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Shale City is located in Mercer County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shale City
- Gilchrist
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Gilchrist is located in Mercer County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilchrist
- Rock Island County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Summit, with the one closest to Summit listed first.
- Illinois City
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Illinois City is located in Rock Island County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Illinois City
- Buffalo Prairie
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Edgington
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Edgington is located in Rock Island County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgington
- Andalusia
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Taylor Ridge
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Reynolds
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Milan
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Milan is located in Rock Island County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milan
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,945 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Milan <1>
- Rock Island
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Oak Grove
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Oak Grove is located in Rock Island County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 585 people
- Coyne Center
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Coyne Center is located in Rock Island County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coyne Center
- Moline
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Moline is located in Rock Island County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moline
- Population from the 2020 Census: 41,065 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Moline <1>
- Coal Valley
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Summit, see our County-by-County Page for Summit.
Cemeteries Near Summit ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Summit.
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 Summit - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Summit covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Summit, with the one closest to Summit listed first.
- Friends Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Harker Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Klein Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Gilbert Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Jewish Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Melpine Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Doran Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- St. Marys Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Wildasin Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Wildsan Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Memorial Park
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Oakdale Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Continue List (333 more) ...
- Krell Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Duff Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Moscow Cemetery
(5 miles [8 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.<2>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Summit had railroad service and no post office.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Summit, with the one closest to Summit listed first.
- Muscatine
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Moscow
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Moscow is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moscow
- Fairport
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Fairport is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairport
- Pleasant Prairie
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Pleasant Prairie is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Prairie
- Pine Mills ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Pine Mills is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Mills
- Durant
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Atalissa
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Illinois City
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Illinois City is located in Rock Island County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Illinois City
- Lime City
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Lime City is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lime City
- Former names for Lime City:
- Lime Kilns
- Munn
- Stockton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Stockton is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stockton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 189 people
- Fruitland
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Fruitland is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fruitland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 966 people
- Montpelier
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Montpelier is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montpelier
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Blue Grass
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Rochester
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Rochester is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rochester
- West Liberty
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Summit. See our List of 1890's Communities around Summit.
Newspapers Published in Summit ...
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 94 newspapers that have been published in the area around Summit.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Summit, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Summit.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Summit:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Muscatine County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cedar County
- Clinton County
- Johnson County
- Louisa County
- Scott County
- Washington County
- Mercer County
- Rock Island 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 Summit, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | 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- Summit) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |