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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 Superior (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 Superior. 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 northeast 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 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 east 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.

Superior is located in Dickinson 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 Dickinson County: Clay, Emmet, Osceola & Jackson (MN).

Below are the counties that are near Superior. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Superior:

  • Dickinson County     (The home county of Superior)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Superior, with the one closest to Superior listed first.
    • Orleans
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Orleans is located in Dickinson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orleans
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 591 people
    • Spirit Lake
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Terril
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Terril is located in Dickinson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terril
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 338 people
    • Arnolds Park
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Okoboji
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Milford
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Old Town
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Old Town is located in Dickinson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Town
    • West Okoboji
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • West Okoboji is located in Dickinson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Okoboji
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 303 people
    • Wahpeton
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Wahpeton is located in Dickinson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wahpeton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 353 people
    • Lake Park
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
  • Clay County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Superior, with the one closest to Superior listed first.
    • Fostoria
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Fostoria is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fostoria
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 219 people
    • Langdon
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Langdon is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langdon
    • Dickens
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Dickens is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dickens
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 168 people
    • Spencer
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Everly
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Everly is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Everly
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 541 people
    • Gillett Grove
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Gillett Grove is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gillett Grove
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 47 people
    • Greenville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
    • Royal
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Emmet County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Superior, with the one closest to Superior listed first.
    • Estherville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Wallingford
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Wallingford is located in Emmet County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wallingford
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 168 people
    • Gruver
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Gruver is located in Emmet County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gruver
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 82 people
    • Dolliver
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Hoprig
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Hoprig is located in Emmet County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoprig
    • Armstrong
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Armstrong is located in Emmet County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armstrong
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 841 people
    • Ringsted
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
  • Kossuth County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Superior, with the one closest to Superior listed first.
    • Seneca
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Seneca is located in Kossuth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seneca
    • Fenton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Fenton is located in Kossuth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fenton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 225 people
  • O'Brien County
    • Moneta
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Moneta is located in O'Brien County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moneta
  • Osceola County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Superior, with the one closest to Superior listed first.
    • Harris
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Harris is located in Osceola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 158 people
    • May City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • May City is located in Osceola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for May City
    • Ocheyedan
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Ocheyedan is located in Osceola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ocheyedan
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 463 people
  • Palo Alto County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Superior, with the one closest to Superior listed first.
    • Graettinger
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Ruthven
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Emmetsburg
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Ayrshire
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Cylinder
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Cylinder is located in Palo Alto County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cylinder
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 84 people
  • Jackson County (MN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Superior, with the one closest to Superior listed first.
    • Petersburg
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Petersburg is located in Jackson County (MN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petersburg
    • Jackson
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Jackson is located in Jackson County (MN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jackson
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,151 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Jackson <1>
    • Alpha
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Alpha is located in Jackson County (MN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alpha
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 119 people
    • Sioux Valley
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Sioux Valley is located in Jackson County (MN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sioux Valley
    • Lakefield
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Okabena
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Okabena is located in Jackson County (MN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Okabena
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 195 people
    • Wilder
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Wilder is located in Jackson County (MN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilder
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 56 people
  • Martin County (MN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Superior, with the one closest to Superior listed first.
    • Dunnell
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Dunnell is located in Martin County (MN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunnell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 145 people
    • Ceylon
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Ceylon is located in Martin County (MN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ceylon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 337 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ceylon <1>
    • Sherburn
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Welcome
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Trimont
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Fairmont
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Nobles County (MN)
    • Round Lake
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Superior, see our County-by-County Page for Superior.

Cemeteries Near Superior ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Superior.

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 Superior - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Superior covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Superior, with the one closest to Superior listed first.

  • Superior Twp. Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Union State Line Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Oak Hill Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Richland Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • St. Patricks Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • East Side Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Estherville Lutheran Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Norwegian Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Petersburg Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Rose Hill Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Prosser Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • St. Johns Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (118 more) ...
    • St. Margaret Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Lake View Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Fairview Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview Cemetery
      • To give a relative sense of its location, the Fairview Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located less than 2 miles<2> to the east of Terril.
      • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #94754 <3>

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 in 1895, Superior had a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Superior had a population of 124 people.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Superior, with the one closest to Superior listed first.

  • Estherville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Petersburg
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Petersburg is located in Jackson County (MN)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petersburg
  • Spirit Lake
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Arnolds Park
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Okoboji
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
  • Wallingford
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Wallingford is located in Emmet County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wallingford
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 168 people
  • Milford
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Dunnell
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Dunnell is located in Martin County (MN)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunnell
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 145 people
  • Jackson
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Jackson is located in Jackson County (MN)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jackson
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,151 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Jackson <1>
  • Graettinger
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Maple Hill
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Maple Hill is located in Emmet County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Hill
  • Dolliver
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Sherburn
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Lake Park
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Hoprig
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Hoprig is located in Emmet County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoprig

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Superior. See our List of 1890's Communities around Superior.

Newspapers Published in Superior ...

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 109 newspapers that have been published in the area around Superior.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Superior, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Superior.

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 Superior:

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>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Superior) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<3>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.
<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 Superior, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.