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Nearest Communities to Waterman,
Listed County-By-County

The purpose of this page is to identify those communities that are closest to Waterman, on a County-by-County basis. To explain further, let's use the example from the Genealogy Helper Page for Waterman:

We have great-grandparents who lived in a small community in the northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the west. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the north.

When doing our research, we make it a practice to expand our search by looking in neighboring counties in addition to 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 north contained their burial records. If we hadn't checked the neighboring counties, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.

Keep in mind that when we give a distance, it's a 'straight-line' distance starting from Waterman.<1>

If you're researching your genealogy, we hope that the following information helps.


Waterman is located in O'Brien County.

The following 8 counties adjoin and form the boundaries of O'Brien County: Buena Vista, Cherokee, Clay, Dickinson, Lyon, Osceola, Plymouth & Sioux.

Our Gazetteer shows that there are 72 communities within 40 miles [64.4 km]<1> of Waterman. Of these communities, 55 are located in counties other than O'Brien County.

We usually exclude communities where we still need to verify their location,<2> but for the purpose of this page, we have included the unverified ('unver') and historic ('hist') communities.

After starting with the home county for Waterman (which is O'Brien County), we list the counties in alphabetical order and for each of those counties, the closest communities are listed in order of their distance from Waterman

For the following list, only those counties that contain communities within 40 miles [64.4 km] are displayed.

  • O'Brien County   (where Waterman resides)
    • County Website:   https://obriencounty.iowa.gov/
    • County Seat for O'Brien:   Primghar
    • Genealogy Websites   ...
    • Nearest Communities to Waterman   ...
      • These communities are listed by their distance from Waterman.
      • Sutherland
        (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Calumet
        (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
        • Calumet is located in O'Brien County
        • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calumet
        • Population from the 2020 Census: 155 people
      • Gaza
        (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
        • Gaza is located in O'Brien County
        • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gaza
      • Mapleside
        (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
        • Mapleside is located in O'Brien County
        • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mapleside
      • Moneta
        (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
        • Moneta is located in O'Brien County
        • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moneta
      • Primghar
        (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Paullina
        (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
        • Paullina is located in O'Brien County
        • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paullina
        • Population from the 2020 Census: 965 people
      • Hartley
        (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
        • Hartley is located in O'Brien County
        • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartley
        • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,556 people
      • Max
        (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
        • Max is located in O'Brien County
        • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Max
      • Germantown
        (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
        • Germantown is located in O'Brien County
        • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Germantown
      • Archer
        (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Sanborn
        (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Continue List   (5 more) ...
        • Plessis
          (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
          • Plessis is located in O'Brien County
          • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plessis
        • Philby
          (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
          • Philby is located in O'Brien County
          • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Philby
        • Evander
          (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
          • Evander is located in O'Brien County
          • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evander
        • Sheldon
          (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
        • Ritter
          (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
          • Ritter is located in O'Brien County
          • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ritter
  • Buena Vista County
    • County Website:   https://buenavistacounty.iowa.gov/
    • County Seat for Buena Vista:   Storm Lake
    • Genealogy Websites   ...
    • Nearest Communities to Waterman   ...
      • These communities are listed by their distance from Waterman.
      • Elkton
        (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
        • Elkton is located in Buena Vista County
        • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkton
      • Linn Grove
        (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Sioux Rapids
        (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Rembrandt
        (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Alta
        (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
        • Alta is located in Buena Vista County
        • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alta
        • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,916 people
        • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Alta <3>
      • Truesdale
        (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Leverett
        (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
        • Leverett is located in Buena Vista County
        • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leverett
      • Marathon
        (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
        • Marathon is located in Buena Vista County
        • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marathon
        • Population from the 2020 Census: 228 people
      • Hanover
        (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
        • Hanover is located in Buena Vista County
        • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanover
      • Continue List   (6 more) ...
        • Storm Lake
          (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
        • Casino Beach
          (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
          • Casino Beach is located in Buena Vista County
          • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Casino Beach
        • Lakeside
          (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
          • Lakeside is located in Buena Vista County
          • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeside
          • Population from the 2020 Census: 690 people
        • Albert City
          (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
        • Sulphur Springs
          (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
          • Sulphur Springs is located in Buena Vista County
          • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sulphur Springs
        • Juniata
          (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
          • Juniata is located in Buena Vista County
          • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Juniata
  • Cherokee County
    • County Website:   https://www.cherokeecounty.iowa.gov/
    • County Seat for Cherokee:   Cherokee
    • Genealogy Websites   ...
    • Nearest Communities to Waterman   ...
      • These communities are listed by their distance from Waterman.
      • Larrabee
        (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
        • Larrabee is located in Cherokee County
        • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Larrabee
        • Population from the 2020 Census: 130 people
      • Meriden
        (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
        • Meriden is located in Cherokee County
        • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meriden
        • Population from the 2020 Census: 144 people
      • Cherokee
        (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Aurelia
        (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Onawa Junction
        (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
        • Onawa Junction is located in Cherokee County
        • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Onawa Junction
      • Cleghorn
        (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
        • Cleghorn is located in Cherokee County
        • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cleghorn
        • Population from the 2020 Census: 214 people
      • Mary Hill
        (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
        • Mary Hill is located in Cherokee County
        • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mary Hill
      • Marcus
        (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Quimby
        (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
        • Quimby is located in Cherokee County
        • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quimby
        • Population from the 2020 Census: 291 people
      • Fielding
        (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
        • Fielding is located in Cherokee County
        • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fielding
      • Washta
        (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
        • Washta is located in Cherokee County
        • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Washta
        • Population from the 2020 Census: 222 people
  • Clay County
    • County Website:   https://claycounty.iowa.gov/
    • County Seat for Clay:   Spencer
    • Genealogy Websites   ...
    • Nearest Communities to Waterman   ...
      • These communities are listed by their distance from Waterman.
      • Peterson
        (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
      • Royal
        (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Rossie
        (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
        • Rossie is located in Clay County
        • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rossie
        • Population from the 2020 Census: 67 people
      • Cornell
        (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
        • Cornell is located in Clay County
        • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornell
      • Greenville
        (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Everly
        (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
        • Everly is located in Clay County
        • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Everly
        • Population from the 2020 Census: 541 people
      • Maclay ‑ Historic
        (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
        • Maclay is located in Clay County
        • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maclay
      • Spencer
        (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Birchwood Estates
        (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
        • Birchwood Estates is located in Clay County
        • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birchwood Estates
      • Gillett Grove
        (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
        • Gillett Grove is located in Clay County
        • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gillett Grove
        • Population from the 2020 Census: 47 people
      • Webb
        (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
        • Webb is located in Clay County
        • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webb
        • Population from the 2020 Census: 126 people
      • Dickens
        (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
        • Dickens is located in Clay County
        • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dickens
        • Population from the 2020 Census: 168 people
      • Fostoria
        (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
        • Fostoria is located in Clay County
        • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fostoria
        • Population from the 2020 Census: 219 people
      • Langdon
        (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
        • Langdon is located in Clay County
        • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langdon
  • Dickinson County
    • County Website:   https://dickinsoncountyiowa.gov/
    • County Seat for Dickinson:   Spirit Lake
    • Genealogy Websites   ...
    • Nearest Communities to Waterman   ...
      • These communities are listed by their distance from Waterman.
      • Wallace
        (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
        • Wallace is located in Dickinson County
        • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wallace
      • Hagerty
        (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
        • Hagerty is located in Dickinson County
        • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagerty
      • Old Town
        (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
        • Old Town is located in Dickinson County
        • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Town
      • Milford
        (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • West Okoboji
        (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
        • West Okoboji is located in Dickinson County
        • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Okoboji
        • Population from the 2020 Census: 303 people
  • Osceola County
    • County Website:   https://osceolacountyia.gov/
    • County Seat for Osceola:   Sibley
    • Genealogy Websites   ...
    • Nearest Communities to Waterman   ...
      • These communities are listed by their distance from Waterman.
      • Melvin
        (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
        • Melvin is located in Osceola County
        • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melvin
        • Population from the 2020 Census: 197 people
      • May City
        (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
        • May City is located in Osceola County
        • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for May City
      • Cloverdale
        (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
        • Cloverdale is located in Osceola County
        • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cloverdale
      • Ashton
        (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Palo Alto County
  • Plymouth County
  • Sioux County
    • County Website:   https://siouxcountyia.gov/
    • County Seat for Sioux:   Orange City
    • Genealogy Websites   ...
    • Nearest Communities to Waterman   ...
      • These communities are listed by their distance from Waterman.
      • Granville
        (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
        • Granville is located in Sioux County
        • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granville
        • Population from the 2020 Census: 303 people
      • Hospers
        (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Alton
        (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Newkirk
        (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
        • Newkirk is located in Sioux County
        • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newkirk

Footnotes ...

<1>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Waterman) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<2>Our data comes from many sources and some sources are more dependable than others. When we add communities to our Gazetteer, we try to verify that we have the correct location for the community. We mark a community as 'Unverified' when we aren't confident about our data and want to do further checking.

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 larger or had a more 'official' existence in the past than it does now.

Since our Gazetteer contains over 100,000 communities, verifying everything is going to take time. If you find an error or can help us to improve our accuracy, please let us know.
<3>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.