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 Watterson (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 Watterson. 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.
Watterson is located in Ringgold 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 Ringgold County: Decatur, Taylor, Union, Harrison (MO) & Worth (MO).
Below are the counties that are near Watterson. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Watterson:
- Ringgold County (The home county of Watterson)
- The following are listed by their distance from Watterson, with the one closest to Watterson listed first.
- Mount Ayr
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Delphos
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Delphos is located in Ringgold County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delphos
- Estimated population in 2019: 24 people
- Redding
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Redding is located in Ringgold County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redding
- Population from the 2020 Census: 77 people
- Benton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Benton is located in Ringgold County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 40 people
- Maloy
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Maloy is located in Ringgold County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maloy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 27 people
- Kellerton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Diagonal
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Knowlton ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Knowlton is located in Ringgold County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knowlton
- Ellston
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Ellston is located in Ringgold County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellston
- Population from the 2020 Census: 38 people
- Tingley
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Beaconsfield
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Beaconsfield is located in Ringgold County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaconsfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 15 people
- Clarke County
- The following are listed by their distance from Watterson, with the one closest to Watterson listed first.
- Hopeville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Hopeville is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopeville
- Lacelle
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Lacelle is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacelle
- Decatur County
- The following are listed by their distance from Watterson, with the one closest to Watterson listed first.
- Lamoni
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Grand River
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Grand River is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grand River
- Population from the 2020 Census: 215 people
- Davis City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Davis City is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 187 people
- Decatur City
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Decatur City is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Decatur City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 181 people
- Pleasanton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Pleasanton is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasanton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 44 people
- Leon
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Van Wert
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Van Wert is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Van Wert
- Population from the 2020 Census: 208 people
- Taylor County
- The following are listed by their distance from Watterson, with the one closest to Watterson listed first.
- Blockton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Blockton is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blockton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 184 people
- Athelstan
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Athelstan is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Athelstan
- Clearfield
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Conway
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Conway is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conway
- Population from the 2020 Census: 40 people
- Lenox
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Sharpsburg
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Sharpsburg is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharpsburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 86 people
- Bedford
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Gravity
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Gravity is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gravity
- Population from the 2020 Census: 181 people
- Ladoga
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Ladoga is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ladoga
- Union County
- The following are listed by their distance from Watterson, with the one closest to Watterson listed first.
- Shannon City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Shannon City is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shannon City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 69 people
- Arispe
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Arispe is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arispe
- Population from the 2020 Census: 96 people
- Kent
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Kent is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kent
- Afton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Gentry County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Watterson, with the one closest to Watterson listed first.
- Siloam Springs
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Siloam Springs is located in Gentry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siloam Springs
- Lone Star
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Lone Star is located in Gentry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lone Star
- Gentry
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Gentry is located in Gentry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gentry
- Population from the 2020 Census: 69 people
- Albany
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Alanthus Grove
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Alanthus Grove is located in Gentry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alanthus Grove
- Darlington
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Darlington is located in Gentry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darlington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 116 people
- Harrison County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Watterson, with the one closest to Watterson listed first.
- Hatfield
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Hatfield is located in Harrison County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatfield
- Eagleville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Martinsville
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Martinsville is located in Harrison County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martinsville
- Blythedale
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Blythedale is located in Harrison County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blythedale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 183 people
- Ridgeway
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Akron
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Akron is located in Harrison County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Akron
- New Hampton
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- New Hampton is located in Harrison County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Hampton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 270 people
- Gardner
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Gardner is located in Harrison County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gardner
- Bethany
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Cainsville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Cainsville is located in Harrison County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cainsville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 272 people
- Mount Moriah
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Mount Moriah is located in Harrison County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Moriah
- Population from the 2020 Census: 80 people
- Mercer County (MO)
- Burrows
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Burrows is located in Mercer County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burrows
- Nodaway County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Watterson, with the one closest to Watterson listed first.
- Parnell
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Gaynor
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Gaynor is located in Nodaway County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gaynor
- Orrsburg
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Orrsburg is located in Nodaway County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orrsburg
- Ravenwood
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Ravenwood is located in Nodaway County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ravenwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 394 people
- Hopkins
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Worth County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Watterson, with the one closest to Watterson listed first.
- Allendale
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Irena
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Irena is located in Worth County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irena
- Population from the 2020 Census: 16 people
- Grant City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Denver
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Denver is located in Worth County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denver
- Population from the 2020 Census: 35 people
- Prohibition City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Prohibition City is located in Worth County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prohibition City
- Worth
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Worth is located in Worth County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Worth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 57 people
- Oxford
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Oxford is located in Worth County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oxford
- Sheridan
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Watterson, see our County-by-County Page for Watterson.
Cemeteries Near Watterson ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Watterson.
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 Watterson - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Watterson covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Watterson, with the one closest to Watterson listed first.
- Oakdale Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Hickory Grove Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Ringgold Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Crim Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Lotts Grove Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Caledonia Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Thompson Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Middle Fork Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Douglas Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Douglas Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Petry Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Shaha Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (259 more) ...
- Oakland Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Clark - Allen Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Lincoln Center Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
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 Watterson in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Watterson.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Watterson, with the one closest to Watterson listed first.
- Ringgold ‑ Historic
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Ringgold is located in Ringgold County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ringgold
- Caledonia ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Caledonia is located in Ringgold County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caledonia
- Hatfield
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Hatfield is located in Harrison County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatfield
- Mount Ayr
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Delphos
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Delphos is located in Ringgold County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delphos
- Estimated population in 2019: 24 people
- Allendale
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Redding
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Redding is located in Ringgold County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redding
- Population from the 2020 Census: 77 people
- Irena
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Irena is located in Worth County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irena
- Population from the 2020 Census: 16 people
- Benton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Benton is located in Ringgold County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 40 people
- Maloy
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Maloy is located in Ringgold County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maloy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 27 people
- Pawnee
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Pawnee is located in Harrison County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pawnee
- Grant City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Washington Center
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Washington Center is located in Harrison County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Washington Center
- Kellerton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Blockton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Blockton is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blockton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 184 people
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Watterson. See our List of 1890's Communities around Watterson.
Newspapers Published in Watterson ...
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 136 newspapers that have been published in the area around Watterson.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Watterson, 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 Watterson.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Watterson:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Ringgold County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clarke County
- Decatur County
- Taylor County
- Union County
- Gentry County
- Harrison County
- Mercer County
- Nodaway County
- Worth 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 Watterson, 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- Watterson) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |