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 Union (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 Union. 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 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.
Union is located in Hardin 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 Hardin County: Butler, Franklin, Grundy, Hamilton, Marshall, Story & Wright.
Below are the counties that are near Union. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Union:
- Hardin County (The home county of Union)
- The following are listed by their distance from Union, with the one closest to Union listed first.
- Whitten
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Whitten is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitten
- Population from the 2020 Census: 140 people
- Gifford
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- New Providence
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- New Providence is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Providence
- Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
- Eldora
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Steamboat Rock
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Hubbard
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Owasa
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Owasa is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Owasa
- Population from the 2020 Census: 41 people
- Cleves
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Cleves is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cleves
- Abbott
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Abbott is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abbott
- Eagle City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Eagle City is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagle City
- Sherman
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Sherman is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherman
- Garden City
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Garden City is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden City
- Black Hawk County
- Voorhies
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Voorhies is located in Black Hawk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Voorhies
- Butler County
- The following are listed by their distance from Union, with the one closest to Union listed first.
- Austinville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Austinville is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Austinville
- Sinclair
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Sinclair is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sinclair
- Aplington
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Parkersburg
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Kesley
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Kesley is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kesley
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Union, with the one closest to Union listed first.
- Faulkner
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Faulkner is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Faulkner
- Bradford
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Bradford is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradford
- Geneva
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Oakland
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Oakland is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland
- Popejoy
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Popejoy is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Popejoy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 74 people
- Grundy County
- The following are listed by their distance from Union, with the one closest to Union listed first.
- Conrad
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Beaman
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Beaman is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 183 people
- Wellsburg
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Grundy Center
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Holland
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Morrison
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Buck Grove
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Buck Grove is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buck Grove
- Fern
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Fern is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fern
- Reinbeck
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Dike
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Stout
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Stout is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stout
- Population from the 2020 Census: 214 people
- Fredsville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Fredsville is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fredsville
- Hamilton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Union, with the one closest to Union listed first.
- Ellsworth
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Randall
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Randall is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Randall
- Population from the 2020 Census: 166 people
- Williams
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Jewell
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- 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>
- Jasper County
- The following are listed by their distance from Union, with the one closest to Union listed first.
- Baxter
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Clyde
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Clyde is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clyde
- Marshall County
- The following are listed by their distance from Union, with the one closest to Union listed first.
- Liscomb
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Liscomb is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liscomb
- Population from the 2020 Census: 296 people
- Bangor
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Bangor is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bangor
- Albion
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Clemons
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Clemons is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clemons
- Population from the 2020 Census: 141 people
- Saint Anthony
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Saint Anthony is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Anthony
- Population from the 2020 Census: 101 people
- Marietta
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Marietta is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marietta
- LaMoille
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- LaMoille is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for LaMoille
- Green Mountain
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Green Mountain is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Mountain
- Marshalltown
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- State Center
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Luray
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Luray is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Luray
- Malta
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Malta is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Malta
- Story County
- The following are listed by their distance from Union, with the one closest to Union listed first.
- Zearing
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- McCallsburg
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- McCallsburg is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCallsburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 320 people
- Colo
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Fernald
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Fernald is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fernald
- Roland
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Roland is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,252 people
- Nevada
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Collins
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Collins is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collins
- Population from the 2020 Census: 472 people
- Iowa Center
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Iowa Center is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iowa Center
- Story City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Maxwell
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Shipley
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Shipley is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shipley
- Tama County
- The following are listed by their distance from Union, with the one closest to Union listed first.
- Gladbrook
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Lincoln
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Lincoln is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lincoln
- Population from the 2020 Census: 148 people
- Garwin
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Garwin is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garwin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 490 people
- Montour
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Dinsdale
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Dinsdale is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dinsdale
- Buckingham
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Buckingham is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckingham
- Traer
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Toledo
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Union, see our County-by-County Page for Union.
Cemeteries Near Union ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Union.
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 Union - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Union covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Union, with the one closest to Union listed first.
- Union Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Hauser Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Sheppard Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Bunch Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Whitney Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Miller Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Francisco Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Chester Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Liscomb Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Benson Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Hadley Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Xenia Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Continue List (249 more) ...
- Bangor Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- St. Johns Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Bethel Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
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 Union had a population of 514 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Union had a population of 373 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Union, with the one closest to Union listed first.
- Gifford
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Whitten
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Whitten is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitten
- Population from the 2020 Census: 140 people
- Liscomb
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Liscomb is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liscomb
- Population from the 2020 Census: 296 people
- Secor ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Secor is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Secor
- Bangor
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Bangor is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bangor
- Lawn Hill
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Lawn Hill is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawn Hill
- New Providence
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- New Providence is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Providence
- Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
- Eldora
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Minerva
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Minerva is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minerva
- Bromley
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Bromley is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bromley
- Moningers
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Moningers is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moningers
- Albion
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Saint Anthony
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Saint Anthony is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Anthony
- Population from the 2020 Census: 101 people
- Clemons
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Clemons is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clemons
- Population from the 2020 Census: 141 people
- Steamboat Rock
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Union. See our List of 1890's Communities around Union.
Newspapers Published in Union ...
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 155 newspapers that have been published in the area around Union.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Union, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Union.
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 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 Union:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Hardin County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Black Hawk County
- Butler County
- Franklin County
- Grundy County
- Hamilton County
- Jasper County
- Marshall County
- Story County
- Tama 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 Union, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | 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- Union) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |