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 Toledo (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 Toledo. 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 Toledo ...
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.
In past government published Postal Guides, Toledo was referred to as Toledo Courthouse.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Toledo. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Toledo.
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.
For more information about how community names might have been affected by the Board of Geographic Names (BGN), see our page about Placename Rules.
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 doctors and hospitals 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.
Toledo is located in Tama County and is the County Seat.
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 Tama County: Benton, Black Hawk, Grundy, Iowa, Jasper, Marshall & Poweshiek.
Below are the counties that are near Toledo. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Toledo:
- Tama County (The home county of Toledo)
- The following are listed by their distance from Toledo, with the one closest to Toledo listed first.
- Tama
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Gladstone
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Gladstone is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gladstone
- Long Point
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Long Point is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Point
- Montour
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Garwin
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Garwin is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garwin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 490 people
- Vining
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Vining is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vining
- Population from the 2020 Census: 49 people
- Clutier
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Chelsea
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Elberon
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Traer
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Gladbrook
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Buckingham
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Buckingham is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckingham
- Benton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Toledo, with the one closest to Toledo listed first.
- Irving
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Irving is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irving
- Belle Plaine
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Keystone
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Luzerne
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Luzerne is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Luzerne
- Population from the 2020 Census: 92 people
- Garrison
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Garrison is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garrison
- Population from the 2020 Census: 355 people
- Van Horne
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Van Horne is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Van Horne
- Population from the 2020 Census: 646 people
- Blairstown
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Black Hawk County
- The following are listed by their distance from Toledo, with the one closest to Toledo listed first.
- Blessing
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Blessing is located in Black Hawk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blessing
- Voorhies
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Voorhies is located in Black Hawk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Voorhies
- Eagle Center
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Eagle Center is located in Black Hawk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagle Center
- Hudson
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- La Porte City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Grundy County
- The following are listed by their distance from Toledo, with the one closest to Toledo listed first.
- Beaman
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Beaman is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 183 people
- Reinbeck
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Conrad
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Morrison
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Grundy Center
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Holland
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Hardin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Toledo, with the one closest to Toledo listed first.
- Whitten
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Whitten is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitten
- Population from the 2020 Census: 140 people
- Union
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Union is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
- Population from the 2020 Census: 373 people
- Iowa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Toledo, with the one closest to Toledo listed first.
- Dayton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Dayton is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
- Ladora
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Marengo
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Jasper County
- The following are listed by their distance from Toledo, with the one closest to Toledo listed first.
- Newburg
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Newburg is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newburg
- Oakland Acres
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Oakland Acres is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland Acres
- Population from the 2020 Census: 161 people
- Kellogg
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Lynnville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Newton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Marshall County
- The following are listed by their distance from Toledo, with the one closest to Toledo listed first.
- Dunbar
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Dunbar is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunbar
- Le Grand
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Dillon
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Dillon is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dillon
- Gilman
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Gilman is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 484 people
- Green Mountain
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Green Mountain is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Mountain
- Ferguson
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Ferguson is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ferguson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 122 people
- Marshalltown
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Laurel
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Laurel is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel
- Population from the 2020 Census: 234 people
- Haverhill
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Luray
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Luray is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Luray
- Albion
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Marietta
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Marietta is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marietta
- Poweshiek County
- The following are listed by their distance from Toledo, with the one closest to Toledo listed first.
- Sheridan
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Sheridan is located in Poweshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheridan
- Hartwick
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Hartwick is located in Poweshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartwick
- Population from the 2020 Census: 81 people
- Grinnell
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Brooklyn
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Malcom
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Victor
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Guernsey
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Montezuma
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Searsboro
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Searsboro is located in Poweshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Searsboro
- Population from the 2020 Census: 145 people
- Deep River
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Deep River is located in Poweshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deep River
- Population from the 2020 Census: 268 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Toledo, see our County-by-County Page for Toledo.
Cemeteries Near Toledo ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Toledo.
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 Toledo - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Toledo covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Toledo, with the one closest to Toledo listed first.
- St. Patricks Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Woodlawn Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Oakhill Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- West Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Mesquakie Indian Burial Grounds
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Croskrey Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- County Home Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- McIntosh Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Walz Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Rose Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Hayes Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Turner Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (258 more) ...
- Rouse Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Grandview Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Helena Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
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 Toledo had a population of 1,836 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Toledo had a population of 2,125 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Toledo, with the one closest to Toledo listed first.
- Tama
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Gladstone
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Gladstone is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gladstone
- Potter
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Potter is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Potter
- Long Point
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Long Point is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Point
- Montour
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Helena
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Helena is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helena
- Haven
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Haven is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haven
- Garwin
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Garwin is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garwin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 490 people
- Dunbar
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Dunbar is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunbar
- Sheridan
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Sheridan is located in Poweshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheridan
- Chelsea
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Vining
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Vining is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vining
- Population from the 2020 Census: 49 people
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Le Grand
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Quarry
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Quarry is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quarry
- Pickering
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Pickering is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pickering
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Toledo. See our List of 1890's Communities around Toledo.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Toledo ...
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 177 newspapers that have been published in the area around Toledo.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Toledo. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Toledo and those printed in the larger area surrounding Toledo.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4> of Toledo.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with 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 Toledo:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Tama County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Benton County
- Black Hawk County
- Grundy County
- Hardin County
- Iowa County
- Jasper County
- Marshall County
- Poweshiek 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 Toledo, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | 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- Toledo) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |