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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 Vail (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 Vail. 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 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.

Vail is located in Crawford 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 Crawford County: Audubon, Carroll, Harrison, Ida, Monona, Sac, Shelby & Woodbury.

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

  • Crawford County     (The home county of Vail)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Vail, with the one closest to Vail listed first.
    • Westside
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Deloit
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Deloit is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deloit
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 254 people
    • Boyer
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Boyer is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyer
    • Denison
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Sunset Village
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Sunset Village is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunset Village
    • Aspinwall
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Aspinwall is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aspinwall
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 40 people
    • Kiron
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Manilla
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Schleswig
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Astor
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Astor is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Astor
    • Buck Grove
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Buck Grove is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buck Grove
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 43 people
    • Arion
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Arion is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arion
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 107 people
  • Audubon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Vail, with the one closest to Vail listed first.
    • Gray
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Fiscus
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Fiscus is located in Audubon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fiscus
    • Ross
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Ross is located in Audubon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ross
    • Audubon
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Kimballton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Calhoun County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Vail, with the one closest to Vail listed first.
    • Yetter
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Yetter is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yetter
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 31 people
    • Lake City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Lytton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Lytton is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lytton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 285 people
  • Carroll County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Vail, with the one closest to Vail listed first.
    • Arcadia
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Arcadia is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcadia
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 531 people
    • Halbur
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Halbur is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halbur
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 252 people
    • Manning
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Breda
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Breda is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Breda
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 471 people
    • Roselle
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Roselle is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roselle
    • Templeton
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Carroll Community Estates
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Carroll
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Willey
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Willey is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willey
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 97 people
    • Lidderdale
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Lidderdale is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lidderdale
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 167 people
    • Dedham
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Glidden
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
  • Harrison County
    • Dunlap
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Ida County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Vail, with the one closest to Vail listed first.
    • Arthur
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Arthur is located in Ida County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arthur
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 194 people
    • Ida Grove
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Battle Creek
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Monona County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Vail, with the one closest to Vail listed first.
    • Ute
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Ute is located in Monona County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ute
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 337 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ute <1>
    • Soldier
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Sac County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Vail, with the one closest to Vail listed first.
    • Herring ‑ Historic
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Herring is located in Sac County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herring
    • Wall Lake
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Wall Lake is located in Sac County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wall Lake
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 753 people
    • Sac City Junction ‑ Historic
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Sac City Junction is located in Sac County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sac City Junction
    • Odebolt
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Odebolt is located in Sac County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Odebolt
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 933 people
    • Lake View
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Auburn
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Grant City
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Grant City is located in Sac County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grant City
    • Early
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Sac City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Schaller
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Shelby County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Vail, with the one closest to Vail listed first.
    • Botna
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Botna is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Botna
    • Defiance
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Defiance is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Defiance
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 260 people
    • Irwin
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Earling
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Earling is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Earling
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 403 people
    • Kirkman
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Kirkman is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kirkman
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 61 people
    • Westphalia
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Westphalia is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westphalia
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 117 people
    • Panama
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Harlan
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
  • Woodbury County
    • Danbury
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)

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

Cemeteries Near Vail ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Vail.

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

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

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

  • St. Anns Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Vail Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • King Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Hayes Twp. Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Hayes Twp. Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Westside Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Milford Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • St. Rose of Lima Catholic Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Old Catholic Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Crawford Heights Memorial Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Oakland Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Zion Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (142 more) ...
    • St. Johns Lutheran Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • St. Johns Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Nishnabotna Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 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.<3>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Vail had a population of 538 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Vail had a population of 413 people.

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

  • Westside
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Deloit
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Deloit is located in Crawford County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deloit
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 254 people
  • Denison
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Arcadia
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Arcadia is located in Carroll County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcadia
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 531 people
  • Aspinwall
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Aspinwall is located in Crawford County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aspinwall
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 40 people
  • Manilla
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
  • Kiron
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Manning
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Halbur
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Halbur is located in Carroll County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halbur
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 252 people
  • Buck Grove
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Buck Grove is located in Crawford County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buck Grove
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 43 people
  • Astor
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Astor is located in Crawford County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Astor
  • Maple River
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Maple River is located in Carroll County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple River
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Botna
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Botna is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Botna
    • Breda
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Breda is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Breda
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 471 people
    • Arion
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Arion is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arion
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 107 people

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Vail ...

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 94 newspapers that have been published in the area around Vail.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Vail. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Vail and those printed in the larger area surrounding Vail.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4> of Vail.

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 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 Vail:

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 Vail, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Vail) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.