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 Valley Junction (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 Valley Junction. 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 Valley Junction ...
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 Valley Junction: Valley Jct. (or less commonly used: Valley Jctn.)
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Valley Junction. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Valley Junction.
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 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.
Valley Junction is located in Polk 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 Polk County: Boone, Dallas, Jasper, Madison, Marion, Story & Warren.
Below are the counties that are near Valley Junction. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Valley Junction:
- Polk County (The home county of Valley Junction)
- The following are listed by their distance from Valley Junction, with the one closest to Valley Junction listed first.
- Windsor Heights
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Commerce
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Commerce is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Commerce
- West Des Moines
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Des Moines
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Clive
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Urbandale
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Norwalk
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Johnston
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Marquisville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Marquisville is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marquisville
- Saylorville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Saylorville is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saylorville
- Carney
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Carney is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carney
- Country Estate Village
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Boone County
- The following are listed by their distance from Valley Junction, with the one closest to Valley Junction listed first.
- Madrid
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Luther
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Luther is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Luther
- Population from the 2020 Census: 133 people
- Clarke County
- Liberty
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Liberty is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty
- Dallas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Valley Junction, with the one closest to Valley Junction listed first.
- Booneville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Waukee
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Van Meter
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Granger
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Dallas Center
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- DeSoto
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Adel
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- High Bridge
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- High Bridge is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High Bridge
- Minburn
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Minburn is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minburn
- Population from the 2020 Census: 357 people
- Woodward
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Xenia
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Xenia is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Xenia
- Panther
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Panther is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panther
- Jasper County
- The following are listed by their distance from Valley Junction, with the one closest to Valley Junction listed first.
- Vandalia
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Vandalia is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vandalia
- Oswalt
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Oswalt is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oswalt
- Valeria
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Valeria is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valeria
- Population from the 2020 Census: 58 people
- Prairie City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Colfax
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Mingo
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Green Castle
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Green Castle is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Castle
- Goddard
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Goddard is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goddard
- Clyde
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Clyde is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clyde
- Ira
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Ira is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ira
- Metz
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Metz is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Metz
- Madison County
- The following are listed by their distance from Valley Junction, with the one closest to Valley Junction listed first.
- Patterson
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Patterson is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 163 people
- Saint Charles
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Earlham
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Winterset
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Truro
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- East Peru
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- East Peru is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Peru
- Population from the 2020 Census: 133 people
- Ord
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Ord is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ord
- Pitzer
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Pitzer is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pitzer
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Valley Junction, with the one closest to Valley Junction listed first.
- Swan
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Swan is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swan
- Population from the 2020 Census: 74 people
- Percy ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Percy is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Percy
- Pleasantville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Story County
- The following are listed by their distance from Valley Junction, with the one closest to Valley Junction listed first.
- Slater
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Huxley
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Cambridge
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Midvale
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Midvale is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midvale
- Kelley
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Maxwell
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Iowa Center
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Iowa Center is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iowa Center
- Shipley
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Shipley is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shipley
- Warren County
- The following are listed by their distance from Valley Junction, with the one closest to Valley Junction listed first.
- Lakewood
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Lakewood is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood
- Orillia
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Orillia is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orillia
- Cumming
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Prole
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Prole is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prole
- Spring Hill
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Spring Hill is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 65 people
- Churchville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Churchville is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Churchville
- Martensdale
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Bevington
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Indianola
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Palmyra
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Palmyra is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmyra
- Hartford
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Ackworth
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Ackworth is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ackworth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 105 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Valley Junction, see our County-by-County Page for Valley Junction.
Cemeteries Near Valley Junction ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Valley Junction.
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 Valley Junction - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Valley Junction covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Valley Junction, with the one closest to Valley Junction listed first.
- Jordan Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Resthaven Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Glendale Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Oak Grove Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Woodland Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Emmanuel Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- St. Ambrose Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Pleasant Ridge Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Chapel Hill Gardens Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Dale Moffit Reservoir Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- St. Johns Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- McDivitt Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Continue List (276 more) ...
- Sunset Memorial Gardens
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Ft. Des Moines Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Huston Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
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 in 1895, Valley Junction had a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Valley Junction, with the one closest to Valley Junction listed first.
- Ashawa
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Ashawa is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashawa
- Commerce
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Commerce is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Commerce
- Orillia
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Orillia is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orillia
- Norwalk
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Des Moines
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Clive
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Campbell
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Campbell is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campbell
- Cumming
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- East Des Moines
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- East Des Moines is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Des Moines
- Saylor
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Saylor is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saylor
- Saylorville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Saylorville is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saylorville
- Booneville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Continue List (18 more) ...
- Levey
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Levey is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Levey
- Grimes
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Waukee
(9 miles [14.5 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 Valley Junction. See our List of 1890's Communities around Valley Junction.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Valley Junction ...
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 50 newspapers that have been published in the area around Valley Junction.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Valley Junction. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Valley Junction and those printed in the larger area surrounding Valley Junction.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<4> of Valley Junction.
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 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 Valley Junction:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Polk County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Boone County
- Clarke County
- Dallas County
- Jasper County
- Madison County
- Marion County
- Story County
- Warren 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 Valley Junction, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Valley Junction) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |