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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 Washington (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 Washington. 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.

Washington is located in Franklin 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 Franklin County: Butler, Cerro Gordo, Hardin & Wright.

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

  • Franklin County     (The home county of Washington)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Washington, with the one closest to Washington listed first.
    • Hampton
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Latimer
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Reeve
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Reeve is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reeve
    • Coulter
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Coulter is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coulter
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 261 people
    • Chapin
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Chapin is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapin
    • Hansell
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Bradford
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Bradford is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradford
    • Geneva
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Sheffield
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Sheffield is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheffield
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,096 people
    • Alexander
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Alexander is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alexander
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 159 people
    • Faulkner
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Faulkner is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Faulkner
    • Popejoy
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Popejoy is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Popejoy
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 74 people
  • Butler County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Washington, with the one closest to Washington listed first.
    • Aredale
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Dumont
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Bristow
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Bristow is located in Butler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bristow
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 147 people
    • Kesley
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Kesley is located in Butler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kesley
    • Austinville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Austinville is located in Butler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Austinville
    • Aplington
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Allison
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Butler Center
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Butler Center is located in Butler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butler Center
    • Greene
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Parkersburg
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Coster
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Coster is located in Butler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coster
    • Clarksville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Cerro Gordo County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Washington, with the one closest to Washington listed first.
    • Thornton
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Thornton is located in Cerro Gordo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thornton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 401 people
    • Meservey
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • 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 north)
    • Swaledale
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Swaledale is located in Cerro Gordo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swaledale
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 157 people
    • Dougherty
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Dougherty is located in Cerro Gordo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dougherty
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 56 people
    • Cartersville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Cartersville is located in Cerro Gordo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cartersville
    • Burchinal
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Burchinal is located in Cerro Gordo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burchinal
    • Cameron
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Cameron is located in Cerro Gordo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cameron
    • Mason City Junction
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Mason City Junction is located in Cerro Gordo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mason City Junction
    • Clear Lake
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Portland
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Portland is located in Cerro Gordo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Portland
    • Ventura
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
  • Floyd County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Washington, with the one closest to Washington listed first.
    • Aureola
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Aureola is located in Floyd County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aureola
    • Marble Rock
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Rockford
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Roseville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Roseville is located in Floyd County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roseville
    • Nora Springs
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Oakwood
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Oakwood is located in Floyd County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood
  • Grundy County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Washington, with the one closest to Washington listed first.
    • Buck Grove
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Buck Grove is located in Grundy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buck Grove
    • Wellsburg
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Hamilton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Washington, with the one closest to Washington listed first.
    • Williams
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Blairsburg
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Blairsburg is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blairsburg
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 199 people
  • Hancock County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Washington, with the one closest to Washington listed first.
    • Goodell
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Goodell is located in Hancock County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 126 people
    • Klemme
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Garner
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Kanawha
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Hardin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Washington, with the one closest to Washington listed first.
    • Iowa Falls
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Alden
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Ackley
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Robertson
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Robertson is located in Hardin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robertson
    • Eagle City
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Eagle City is located in Hardin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagle City
    • Abbott
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Abbott is located in Hardin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abbott
    • Owasa
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Owasa is located in Hardin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Owasa
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 41 people
    • Cleves
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Cleves is located in Hardin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cleves
    • Buckeye
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Buckeye is located in Hardin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckeye
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 107 people
    • Steamboat Rock
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Sherman
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Sherman is located in Hardin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherman
    • Eldora
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
  • Wright County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Washington, with the one closest to Washington listed first.
    • Dows
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Rowan
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Galt
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Solberg ‑ Historic
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Solberg is located in Wright County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Solberg
    • Belmond
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Cornelia
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Cornelia is located in Wright County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornelia
    • Clarion
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Olaf
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Olaf is located in Wright County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olaf
    • Holmes
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Holmes is located in Wright County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holmes

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

Cemeteries Near Washington ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Washington.

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

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

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

  • Trinity Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Marion Center Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • St. Johns Lutheran Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Hampton Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • St. Peter's Lutheran Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Old Chapin Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • St. Pauls Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Coulter Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Maynes Grove Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Zion Reformed Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Towle Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Way Side Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (165 more) ...
    • Maysville Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Morgan Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Morgan Twp. Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)

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 Washington in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Washington.

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

  • Hampton
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Latimer
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Reeve
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Reeve is located in Franklin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reeve
  • Chapin
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Chapin is located in Franklin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapin
  • Geneva
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Hansell
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Sheffield
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Sheffield is located in Franklin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheffield
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,096 people
  • Alexander
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Alexander is located in Franklin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alexander
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 159 people
  • Burdette
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Burdette is located in Franklin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burdette
  • Dows
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Popejoy
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Popejoy is located in Franklin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Popejoy
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 74 people
  • Faulkner
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Faulkner is located in Franklin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Faulkner
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Thornton
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Thornton is located in Cerro Gordo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thornton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 401 people
    • Aredale
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Rowan
      (14 miles [22.5 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 Washington. See our List of 1890's Communities around Washington.

Newspapers Published in Washington ...

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 121 newspapers that have been published in the area around Washington.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Washington, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Washington.

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 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 Washington:

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 Washington, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Washington) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.