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 Ventura (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 Ventura. 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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.
Ventura is located in Cerro Gordo 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 Cerro Gordo County: Butler, Floyd, Franklin, Hancock, Mitchell, Winnebago, Worth & Wright.
Below are the counties that are near Ventura. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Ventura:
- Cerro Gordo County (The home county of Ventura)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ventura, with the one closest to Ventura listed first.
- Clear Lake
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Creamery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Creamery is located in Cerro Gordo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creamery
- Burchinal
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Burchinal is located in Cerro Gordo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burchinal
- Swaledale
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Swaledale is located in Cerro Gordo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swaledale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 157 people
- Mason City Junction
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Mason City Junction is located in Cerro Gordo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mason City Junction
- Mason City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Thornton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Thornton is located in Cerro Gordo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thornton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 401 people
- Cameron
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Cameron is located in Cerro Gordo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cameron
- Meservey
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Meservey is located in Cerro Gordo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meservey
- Population from the 2020 Census: 237 people
- Rockwell
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Portland
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Portland is located in Cerro Gordo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Portland
- Plymouth Junction
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Plymouth Junction is located in Cerro Gordo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plymouth Junction
- Plymouth
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Plymouth is located in Cerro Gordo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plymouth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 361 people
- Butler County
- Aredale
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Floyd County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ventura, with the one closest to Ventura listed first.
- Nora Springs
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Rockford
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Rudd
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ventura, with the one closest to Ventura listed first.
- Sheffield
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Sheffield is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheffield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,096 people
- Alexander
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Alexander is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alexander
- Population from the 2020 Census: 159 people
- Chapin
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Chapin is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapin
- Latimer
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Coulter
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Coulter is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coulter
- Population from the 2020 Census: 261 people
- Hampton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Hancock County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ventura, with the one closest to Ventura listed first.
- Garner
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Klemme
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Duncan
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Duncan is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duncan
- Goodell
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Goodell is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 126 people
- Britt
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Crystal Lake
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Crystal Lake is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crystal Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 228 people
- Kanawha
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Hutchins
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Hutchins is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hutchins
- Woden
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Corwith
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Corwith is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corwith
- Population from the 2020 Census: 245 people
- Kossuth County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ventura, with the one closest to Ventura listed first.
- Wesley
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Wesley is located in Kossuth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wesley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 364 people
- German Valley
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- German Valley is located in Kossuth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for German Valley
- Titonka
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Titonka is located in Kossuth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Titonka
- Population from the 2020 Census: 433 people
- Mitchell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ventura, with the one closest to Ventura listed first.
- Rock Creek
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Rock Creek is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Creek
- Carpenter
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Carpenter is located in Mitchell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carpenter
- Population from the 2020 Census: 108 people
- Winnebago County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ventura, with the one closest to Ventura listed first.
- Forest City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Leland
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Leland is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 268 people
- Lake Mills
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Thompson
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Scarville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Vinje
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Vinje is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vinje
- Buffalo Center
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Worth County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ventura, with the one closest to Ventura listed first.
- Fertile
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Hanlontown
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Hanlontown is located in Worth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanlontown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
- Joice
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Joice is located in Worth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joice
- Population from the 2020 Census: 209 people
- Manly
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Bristol
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Bristol is located in Worth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bristol
- Kensett
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Kensett is located in Worth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kensett
- Population from the 2020 Census: 249 people
- Silver Lake
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Silver Lake is located in Worth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Lake
- Bolan
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Bolan is located in Worth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolan
- Grafton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Northwood
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Wright County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ventura, with the one closest to Ventura listed first.
- Belmond
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Olaf
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Olaf is located in Wright County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olaf
- Cornelia
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Cornelia is located in Wright County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornelia
- Rowan
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Solberg ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Solberg is located in Wright County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Solberg
- Galt
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Clarion
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Faribault County (MN)
- Kiester
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Freeborn County (MN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ventura, with the one closest to Ventura listed first.
- Emmons
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Emmons is located in Freeborn County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emmons
- Population from the 2020 Census: 380 people
- Twin Lakes
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Twin Lakes is located in Freeborn County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin Lakes
- Population from the 2020 Census: 149 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Ventura, see our County-by-County Page for Ventura.
Cemeteries Near Ventura ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Ventura.
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 Ventura - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Ventura covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Ventura, with the one closest to Ventura listed first.
- Clear Lake Twp. Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Forest Lawn Memorial Garden
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- St. Johns Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Clear Lake Municipal Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Ellington Prairie Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Grant Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Ellington Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Concord Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Pilot Knob Lutheran Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Memorial Park
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Elim Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Mt. Vernon Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (168 more) ...
- Lincoln Twp. Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- St. Boniface Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Brush Point Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
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>
While we didn't find Ventura in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Ventura.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Ventura, with the one closest to Ventura listed first.
- Clear Lake
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Garner
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Miller
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Miller is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Miller
- Creamery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Creamery is located in Cerro Gordo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creamery
- Fertile
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Klemme
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Burchinal
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Burchinal is located in Cerro Gordo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burchinal
- Swaledale
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Swaledale is located in Cerro Gordo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swaledale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 157 people
- Forest City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Hayfield
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Hayfield is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hayfield
- Thornton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Thornton is located in Cerro Gordo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thornton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 401 people
- Mason City Junction
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Mason City Junction is located in Cerro Gordo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mason City Junction
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Mason City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Cameron
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Cameron is located in Cerro Gordo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cameron
- Goodell
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Goodell is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 126 people
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Ventura. See our List of 1890's Communities around Ventura.
Newspapers Published in Ventura ...
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 108 newspapers that have been published in the area around Ventura.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Ventura, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Ventura.
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 Ventura:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Cerro Gordo County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Butler County
- Floyd County
- Franklin County
- Hancock County
- Kossuth County
- Mitchell County
- Winnebago County
- Worth County
- Wright County
- Faribault County
- Freeborn 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 Ventura, 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- Ventura) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |