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 University Heights (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 University Heights. 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 University Heights ...
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.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
For example, a typical abbreviation for University Heights: University Hts. (in Canada, 'Hgts.' is the more common abbreviation.)
You might be interested in other communities that are also named University Heights. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for University Heights.
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.
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 and doctors 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.
University Heights is located in Johnson 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 Johnson County: Benton, Cedar, Iowa, Linn, Louisa, Muscatine & Washington.
Below are the counties that are near University Heights. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to University Heights:
- Johnson County (The home county of University Heights)
- The following are listed by their distance from University Heights, with the one closest to University Heights listed first.
- Iowa City
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Coralville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Oakdale
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Oakdale is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakdale
- Midway ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Midway is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
- North Liberty
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Tiffin
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Hills
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Elmira
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Elmira is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmira
- Oasis
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Oasis is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oasis
- Morse
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Morse is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morse
- Cosgrove
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Cosgrove is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cosgrove
- Frytown
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Frytown is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frytown
- Benton County
- The following are listed by their distance from University Heights, with the one closest to University Heights listed first.
- Norway
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Watkins
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Watkins is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watkins
- Atkins
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Cedar County
- The following are listed by their distance from University Heights, with the one closest to University Heights listed first.
- Downey
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Downey is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Downey
- West Branch
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Centerdale
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Centerdale is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerdale
- Springdale
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Springdale is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springdale
- Cedar Bluff
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Cedar Bluff is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Bluff
- Cedar Valley
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Cedar Valley is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Valley
- Buchanan
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Buchanan is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buchanan
- Rochester
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Rochester is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rochester
- Tipton
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Mechanicsville
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Mechanicsville is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mechanicsville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,116 people
- Lime City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Lime City is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lime City
- Former names for Lime City:
- Lime Kilns
- Munn
- Stanwood
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Iowa County
- The following are listed by their distance from University Heights, with the one closest to University Heights listed first.
- Amana
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Middle Amana
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- South Amana
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- West Amana
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- West Amana is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Amana
- Conroy
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Conroy is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conroy
- Parnell
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Williamsburg
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Marengo
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- North English
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Jones County
- The following are listed by their distance from University Heights, with the one closest to University Heights listed first.
- Martelle
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Martelle is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martelle
- Population from the 2020 Census: 246 people
- Morley
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Morley is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 110 people
- Keokuk County
- The following are listed by their distance from University Heights, with the one closest to University Heights listed first.
- Kinross
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Kinross is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kinross
- Population from the 2020 Census: 71 people
- Keota
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- South English
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- South English is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South English
- Population from the 2020 Census: 211 people
- Linn County
- The following are listed by their distance from University Heights, with the one closest to University Heights listed first.
- Ely
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Western
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Western is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Western
- Lincolnway Village
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Lincolnway Village is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lincolnway Village
- Mount Vernon
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Bertram
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Bertram is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bertram
- Population from the 2020 Census: 278 people
- Lisbon
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Walford
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Walford is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walford
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,436 people
- Fairfax
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Grand View Village
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Grand View Village is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grand View Village
- Cedar Rapids
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Cedar Hills
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Cedar Hills is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Hills
- Covington
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Covington is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Covington
- Louisa County
- The following are listed by their distance from University Heights, with the one closest to University Heights listed first.
- Gladwin
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Gladwin is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gladwin
- Cotter
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Cotter is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cotter
- Population from the 2020 Census: 42 people
- Columbus Junction
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Fredonia
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Fredonia is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fredonia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
- Columbus City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Columbus City is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbus City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 371 people
- Letts
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Muscatine County
- The following are listed by their distance from University Heights, with the one closest to University Heights listed first.
- West Liberty
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Nichols
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Nichols is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nichols
- Population from the 2020 Census: 358 people
- Atalissa
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Conesville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Conesville is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conesville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 427 people
- Moscow
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Moscow is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moscow
- South Towne Park
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- South Towne Park is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Towne Park
- Wilton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Fruitland
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Fruitland is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fruitland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 966 people
- Muscatine
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from University Heights, with the one closest to University Heights listed first.
- Riverside
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Kalona
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Wellman
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Nira
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Nira is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nira
- Ainsworth
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Washington
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- West Chester
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- West Chester is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Chester
- Population from the 2020 Census: 147 people
- Havre
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Havre is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Havre
- Crawfordsville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to University Heights, see our County-by-County Page for University Heights.
Cemeteries Near University Heights ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of University Heights.
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 University Heights - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for University Heights covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from University Heights, with the one closest to University Heights listed first.
- Handcart Pioneer Burial Ground
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Morman Burying Ground
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Oakland Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- St. Joseph Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- St. Joseph Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Agudas Achim Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Oak Hill Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Welsh Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Welsh Cemetery
- The Welsh Cemetery has also been known as:
- First Welsh Congregational Church Cemetery
- Welsh Pioneer Cemetery
- Welsh UCC Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2163242 <2>
- Memory Gardens Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Unity Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- North Scott Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Mentzer Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Continue List (349 more) ...
- Earhart Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Thompson - Cherry Pioneer Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- St. Mary's Newport Catholic Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. Mary's Newport Catholic Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the St. Mary's Newport Catholic Cemetery is located 5 miles [8 km]<3> to the north of Iowa City.
- The St. Mary's Newport Catholic Cemetery has also been known as:
- St. Marys Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2429528 <2>
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>
While we didn't find University Heights in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of University Heights.
These communities are listed based on their distance from University Heights, with the one closest to University Heights listed first.
- Iowa City
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Coralville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Graham ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Graham is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graham
- Midway ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Midway is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
- North Liberty
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Tiffin
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Sharon Center
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Sharon Center is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharon Center
- Elmira
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Elmira is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmira
- Oasis
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Oasis is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oasis
- Morse
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Morse is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morse
- Cosgrove
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Cosgrove is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cosgrove
- Windham
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Windham is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windham
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Solon
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Iowa Junction ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Iowa Junction is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iowa Junction
- River Junction
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- River Junction is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for River Junction
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around University Heights. See our List of 1890's Communities around University Heights.
Newspapers Published in University Heights ...
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 43 newspapers that have been published in the area around University Heights.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of University Heights, 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 University Heights.
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 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 University Heights:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Johnson County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Benton County
- Cedar County
- Iowa County
- Jones County
- Keokuk County
- Linn County
- Louisa County
- Muscatine County
- Washington 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> | 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- University Heights) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <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 University Heights, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |