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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 Viola Center (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 Viola Center. 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 Viola Center ...

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 Viola Center: Viola Ctr. (or less commonly used: Viola Cen., Viola Cent. or Viola Cntr.)

You might see Viola Centre instead of Viola Center.

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.

For more information about how community names might have been affected by the Board of Geographic Names (BGN), see our page about Placename Rules.

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.

Viola Center is located in Audubon 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 Audubon County: Adair, Carroll, Cass, Crawford, Guthrie & Shelby.

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

  • Audubon County     (The home county of Viola Center)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Viola Center, with the one closest to Viola Center listed first.
    • Ross
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
      • Ross is located in Audubon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ross
    • Audubon
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Gray
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Hamlin
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Hamlin is located in Audubon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamlin
    • Exira
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Fiscus
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Fiscus is located in Audubon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fiscus
    • Kimballton
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Brayton
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
  • Carroll County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Viola Center, with the one closest to Viola Center listed first.
    • Dedham
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Coon Rapids
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Templeton
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Willey
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Willey is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willey
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 97 people
    • Roselle
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Roselle is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roselle
    • Manning
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Halbur
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Halbur is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halbur
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 252 people
    • Carroll Community Estates
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Glidden
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Carroll
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Ralston
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Ralston is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ralston
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 72 people
    • Lidderdale
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Lidderdale is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lidderdale
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 167 people
    • Arcadia
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Arcadia is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcadia
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 531 people
  • Cass County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Viola Center, with the one closest to Viola Center listed first.
    • Anita
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Wiota
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Sycamore Village
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Sycamore Village is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sycamore Village
    • Marne
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Atlantic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
    • Grove City ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Grove City is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grove City
  • Crawford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Viola Center, with the one closest to Viola Center listed first.
    • Aspinwall
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Aspinwall is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aspinwall
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 40 people
    • Manilla
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Westside
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Astor
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Astor is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Astor
    • Vail
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Vail is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vail
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 413 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Vail <1>
  • Dallas County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Viola Center, with the one closest to Viola Center listed first.
    • Linden
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Linden is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linden
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 214 people
    • Dawson
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Dawson is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dawson
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 127 people
  • Greene County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Viola Center, with the one closest to Viola Center listed first.
    • Scranton
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Cooper
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Cooper is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooper
    • Farlin
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Farlin is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farlin
    • Jefferson
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Churdan
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Churdan is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Churdan
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 363 people
  • Guthrie County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Viola Center, with the one closest to Viola Center listed first.
    • North Branch
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • North Branch is located in Guthrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Branch
    • Bayard
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Guthrie Center
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Bagley
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Bagley is located in Guthrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bagley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 285 people
    • Adair
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Herndon
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Herndon is located in Guthrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herndon
    • Panora
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Yale
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Yale is located in Guthrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yale
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 239 people
    • Jamaica
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Casey
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Glendon
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Glendon is located in Guthrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glendon
    • Dale
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Dale is located in Guthrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dale
    • Menlo
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Pottawattamie County
    • Walnut
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Walnut is located in Pottawattamie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 768 people
  • Sac County
    • Auburn
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Shelby County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Viola Center, with the one closest to Viola Center listed first.
    • Botna
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Botna is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Botna
    • Elk Horn
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Irwin
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Kirkman
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Kirkman is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kirkman
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 61 people
    • Defiance
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Defiance is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Defiance
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 260 people
    • Harlan
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)

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

Cemeteries Near Viola Center ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Viola Center.

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 Viola Center - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Viola Center Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Luccocks Grove Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Melville Twp. Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Tuttles Grove Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Orange Twp. Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Cameron Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • St. Josephs Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Dedham Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Union Twp. Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Aretas Lodge Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Arlington Heights Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Maple Grove Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (157 more) ...

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, Viola Center had a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Ross
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Ross is located in Audubon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ross
  • Coon Rapids
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Dedham
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Audubon
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Gray
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
  • Carrollton
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Carrollton is located in Carroll County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carrollton
  • Templeton
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Hamlin
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Hamlin is located in Audubon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamlin
  • North Branch
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • North Branch is located in Guthrie County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Branch
  • Wichita
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Wichita is located in Guthrie County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wichita
  • Willey
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Willey is located in Carroll County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willey
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 97 people
  • Bayard
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...
    • Roselle
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Roselle is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roselle
    • Fiscus
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Fiscus is located in Audubon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fiscus
    • Exira
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)

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

Newspapers Published in Viola Center ...

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 28 newspapers that have been published in the area around Viola Center.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Viola Center, 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 Viola Center.

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 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 Viola Center:

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 Viola Center, 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- Viola Center) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.