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 Van (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 Van. 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.
Van is located in Marshall 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 Marshall County: Grundy, Hardin, Jasper, Poweshiek, Story & Tama.
Below are the counties that are near Van. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Van:
- Marshall County (The home county of Van)
- The following are listed by their distance from Van, with the one closest to Van listed first.
- State Center Junction
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Haverhill
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Luray
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Luray is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Luray
- Melbourne
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Malta
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Malta is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Malta
- LaMoille
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- LaMoille is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for LaMoille
- Laurel
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Laurel is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel
- Population from the 2020 Census: 234 people
- Ferguson
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Ferguson is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ferguson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 122 people
- Rhodes
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Rhodes is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rhodes
- Population from the 2020 Census: 298 people
- Marietta
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Marietta is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marietta
- Marshalltown
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- State Center
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Dillon
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Dillon is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dillon
- Grundy County
- The following are listed by their distance from Van, with the one closest to Van listed first.
- Conrad
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Beaman
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Beaman is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 183 people
- Hardin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Van, with the one closest to Van listed first.
- Union
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Union is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
- Population from the 2020 Census: 373 people
- Whitten
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Whitten is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitten
- Population from the 2020 Census: 140 people
- Gifford
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- New Providence
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- New Providence is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Providence
- Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
- Garden City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Garden City is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden City
- Eldora
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Hubbard
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Jasper County
- The following are listed by their distance from Van, with the one closest to Van listed first.
- Baxter
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Clyde
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Clyde is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clyde
- Ira
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Ira is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ira
- Newburg
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Newburg is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newburg
- Kellogg
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Lambs Grove
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Lambs Grove is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lambs Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 165 people
- Newton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Goddard
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Goddard is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goddard
- Oakland Acres
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Oakland Acres is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland Acres
- Population from the 2020 Census: 161 people
- Green Castle
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Green Castle is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Castle
- Mingo
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Metz
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Metz is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Metz
- Colfax
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Polk County
- The following are listed by their distance from Van, with the one closest to Van listed first.
- Loring
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Loring is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loring
- Santiago
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Santiago is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Santiago
- Mitchellville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Elkhart
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Bondurant
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Poweshiek County
- The following are listed by their distance from Van, with the one closest to Van listed first.
- Grinnell
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Sheridan
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Sheridan is located in Poweshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheridan
- Malcom
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Searsboro
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Searsboro is located in Poweshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Searsboro
- Population from the 2020 Census: 145 people
- Story County
- The following are listed by their distance from Van, with the one closest to Van listed first.
- Collins
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Collins is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collins
- Population from the 2020 Census: 472 people
- Colo
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Iowa Center
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Iowa Center is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iowa Center
- Maxwell
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Zearing
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Fernald
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Fernald is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fernald
- Nevada
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- McCallsburg
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- McCallsburg is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCallsburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 320 people
- Shipley
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Shipley is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shipley
- Cambridge
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Roland
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Roland is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,252 people
- Huxley
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Midvale
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Midvale is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midvale
- Tama County
- The following are listed by their distance from Van, with the one closest to Van listed first.
- Montour
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Garwin
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Garwin is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garwin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 490 people
- Tama
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Toledo
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Gladbrook
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Gladstone
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Gladstone is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gladstone
- Long Point
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Long Point is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Point
- Lincoln
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Lincoln is located in Tama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lincoln
- Population from the 2020 Census: 148 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Van, see our County-by-County Page for Van.
Cemeteries Near Van ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Van.
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 Van - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Van covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Van, with the one closest to Van listed first.
- Logan Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Maple Grove Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- St. John's UCC Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Immaculate Conception Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Melbourne Memorial Garden Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Methodist Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- LaMoille Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Fairview Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Graceland Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- County Home Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Timber Creek Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Center School Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (262 more) ...
- Wilkey Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Rose Hill Memorial Gardens Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- St. Josephs Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 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.<2>
While we didn't find Van in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Van.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Van, with the one closest to Van listed first.
- State Center Junction
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Haverhill
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Luray
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Luray is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Luray
- Melbourne
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Malta
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Malta is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Malta
- Laurel
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Laurel is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel
- Population from the 2020 Census: 234 people
- LaMoille
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- LaMoille is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for LaMoille
- Ferguson
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Ferguson is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ferguson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 122 people
- Rhodes
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Rhodes is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rhodes
- Population from the 2020 Census: 298 people
- Marshalltown
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Marietta
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Marietta is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marietta
- State Center
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Baxter
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Pickering
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Pickering is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pickering
- Dillon
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Dillon is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dillon
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Van. See our List of 1890's Communities around Van.
Newspapers Published in Van ...
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 164 newspapers that have been published in the area around Van.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Van, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Van.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Van:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Marshall County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Grundy County
- Hardin County
- Jasper County
- Polk County
- Poweshiek 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 Van, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Van) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |