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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 Truesdale (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 Truesdale. 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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most 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.

Truesdale is located in Buena Vista 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 Buena Vista County: Calhoun, Cherokee, Clay, Ida, O'Brien, Palo Alto, Pocahontas & Sac.

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

  • Buena Vista County     (The home county of Truesdale)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Truesdale, with the one closest to Truesdale listed first.
    • Rembrandt
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Storm Lake
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Casino Beach
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Casino Beach is located in Buena Vista County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Casino Beach
    • Lakeside
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Lakeside is located in Buena Vista County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeside
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 690 people
    • Alta
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Alta is located in Buena Vista County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alta
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,916 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Alta <1>
    • Elkton
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Elkton is located in Buena Vista County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkton
    • Juniata
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Juniata is located in Buena Vista County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Juniata
    • Linn Grove
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Sioux Rapids
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Albert City
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Newell
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Newell is located in Buena Vista County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 859 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Newell <1>
    • Marathon
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Marathon is located in Buena Vista County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marathon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 228 people
  • Calhoun County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Truesdale, with the one closest to Truesdale listed first.
    • Lytton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Lytton is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lytton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 285 people
    • Pomeroy
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Jolley
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Jolley is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jolley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 37 people
  • Cherokee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Truesdale, with the one closest to Truesdale listed first.
    • Aurelia
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Cherokee
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Larrabee
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Larrabee is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Larrabee
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 130 people
    • Meriden
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Meriden is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meriden
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 144 people
    • Quimby
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Quimby is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quimby
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 291 people
    • Mary Hill
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Mary Hill is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mary Hill
    • Cleghorn
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Cleghorn is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cleghorn
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 214 people
    • Washta
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Washta is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Washta
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 222 people
  • Clay County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Truesdale, with the one closest to Truesdale listed first.
    • Cornell
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Cornell is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornell
    • Peterson
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Webb
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Webb is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webb
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 126 people
    • Greenville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Rossie
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Rossie is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rossie
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 67 people
    • Gillett Grove
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Gillett Grove is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gillett Grove
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 47 people
    • Royal
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Dickens
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Dickens is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dickens
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 168 people
    • Spencer
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Everly
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Everly is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Everly
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 541 people
  • Ida County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Truesdale, with the one closest to Truesdale listed first.
    • Galva
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Holstein
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Arthur
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Arthur is located in Ida County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arthur
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 194 people
    • Ida Grove
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • O'Brien County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Truesdale, with the one closest to Truesdale listed first.
    • Calumet
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Calumet is located in O'Brien County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calumet
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 155 people
    • Sutherland
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Moneta
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Moneta is located in O'Brien County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moneta
    • Paullina
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Paullina is located in O'Brien County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paullina
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 965 people
  • Palo Alto County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Truesdale, with the one closest to Truesdale listed first.
    • Ayrshire
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Curlew
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Curlew is located in Palo Alto County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curlew
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 55 people
    • Mallard
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Pocahontas County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Truesdale, with the one closest to Truesdale listed first.
    • Varina
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Varina is located in Pocahontas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Varina
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 64 people
    • Laurens
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Fonda
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Fonda is located in Pocahontas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fonda
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 566 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Fonda <1>
    • Havelock
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Pocahontas
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Palmer
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
    • Plover
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Plover is located in Pocahontas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plover
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 69 people
  • Sac County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Truesdale, with the one closest to Truesdale listed first.
    • Nemaha
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Nemaha is located in Sac County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nemaha
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 80 people
    • Schaller
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Early
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Sac City
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Lake View
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Odebolt
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Odebolt is located in Sac County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Odebolt
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 933 people
  • Woodbury County
    • Cushing
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Cushing is located in Woodbury County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cushing
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 215 people

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

Cemeteries Near Truesdale ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Truesdale.

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

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

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

  • Lincoln Twp. Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Woodlawn Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Buena Vista Memorial Park
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • St. Marys Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Storm Lake Municipal Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Zion Lutheran Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Elk Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Scandinavian Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • St. Johns Church of Christ Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Little Sioux Valley Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • St. Johns Lutheran Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
  • St. Johns Lutheran Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (127 more) ...
    • Plainview Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Lone Tree Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Barnes Twp. Cemetery
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)

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 Truesdale in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Truesdale.

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

  • Storm Lake
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Alta
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Alta is located in Buena Vista County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alta
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,916 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Alta <1>
  • Sulphur Springs
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Sulphur Springs is located in Buena Vista County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sulphur Springs
  • Elkton
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Elkton is located in Buena Vista County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkton
  • Linn Grove
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
  • Sioux Rapids
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
  • Hanover
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Hanover is located in Buena Vista County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanover
  • Newell
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Newell is located in Buena Vista County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newell
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 859 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Newell <1>
  • Aurelia
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
  • Marathon
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Marathon is located in Buena Vista County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marathon
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 228 people
  • Peterson
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Schaller
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Early
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Laurens
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Cherokee
      (18 miles [29 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 Truesdale. See our List of 1890's Communities around Truesdale.

Newspapers Published in Truesdale ...

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 126 newspapers that have been published in the area around Truesdale.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Truesdale, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Truesdale.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we start 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 Truesdale:

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 Truesdale, 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 from Point A (ie- Truesdale) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.