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 Webster City (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 Webster City. 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 Webster City ...
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.
In past government published Postal Guides, Webster City was referred to as Webster City Courthouse.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Webster City. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Webster City.
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 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.
Webster City is located in Hamilton County and is the County Seat.
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 Hamilton County: Boone, Franklin, Hardin, Story, Webster & Wright.
Below are the counties that are near Webster City. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Webster City:
- Hamilton County (The home county of Webster City)
- The following are listed by their distance from Webster City, with the one closest to Webster City listed first.
- Kamrar
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Blairsburg
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Blairsburg is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blairsburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 199 people
- Stanhope
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Stanhope is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stanhope
- Population from the 2020 Census: 394 people
- Williams
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Stratford
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Jewell
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Jewell is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jewell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,138 people
- Jewell has also been known as:
- Jewell Junction
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Jewell <1>
- Ellsworth
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Randall
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Randall is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Randall
- Population from the 2020 Census: 166 people
- Boone County
- The following are listed by their distance from Webster City, with the one closest to Webster City listed first.
- Mackey
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Mackey is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mackey
- Pilot Mound
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Pilot Mound is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pilot Mound
- Population from the 2020 Census: 170 people
- Fraser
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Fraser is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fraser
- Population from the 2020 Census: 103 people
- Boxholm
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Centerville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Centerville is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
- Boone
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Jordan
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Jordan is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jordan
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Webster City, with the one closest to Webster City listed first.
- Oakland
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Oakland is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland
- Popejoy
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Popejoy is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Popejoy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 74 people
- Alexander
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Alexander is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alexander
- Population from the 2020 Census: 159 people
- Coulter
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Coulter is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coulter
- Population from the 2020 Census: 261 people
- Latimer
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Greene County
- Paton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Hardin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Webster City, with the one closest to Webster City listed first.
- Alden
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Buckeye
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Buckeye is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckeye
- Population from the 2020 Census: 107 people
- Radcliffe
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Sherman
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Sherman is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherman
- Garden City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Garden City is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden City
- Hubbard
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Iowa Falls
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Humboldt County
- The following are listed by their distance from Webster City, with the one closest to Webster City listed first.
- Thor
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Renwick
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Dakota City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Hardy
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Hardy is located in Humboldt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hardy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 41 people
- Humboldt
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Arnold
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Arnold is located in Humboldt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arnold
- Story County
- The following are listed by their distance from Webster City, with the one closest to Webster City listed first.
- Story City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Zenorsville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Zenorsville is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zenorsville
- Gilbert
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Roland
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Roland is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,252 people
- McCallsburg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- McCallsburg is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCallsburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 320 people
- Ontario
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Ontario is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ontario
- Webster County
- The following are listed by their distance from Webster City, with the one closest to Webster City listed first.
- Duncombe
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Brushy
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Brushy is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brushy
- Border Plains
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Border Plains is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Border Plains
- Evanston
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Evanston is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evanston
- Vincent
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Vincent is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vincent
- Population from the 2020 Census: 158 people
- Lehigh
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Coalville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Coalville is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coalville
- Cypsum City ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Cypsum City is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cypsum City
- Burnside
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Burnside is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnside
- Kalo
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Kalo is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kalo
- Otho
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Dayton
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Fort Dodge
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Wright County
- The following are listed by their distance from Webster City, with the one closest to Webster City listed first.
- Woolstock
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Woolstock is located in Wright County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woolstock
- Population from the 2020 Census: 159 people
- Eagle Grove
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Clarion
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Goldfield
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Holmes
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Holmes is located in Wright County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holmes
- Galt
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Dows
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Solberg ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Solberg is located in Wright County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Solberg
- Cornelia
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Cornelia is located in Wright County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornelia
- Rowan
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Belmond
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Olaf
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Olaf is located in Wright County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olaf
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Webster City, see our County-by-County Page for Webster City.
Cemeteries Near Webster City ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Webster City.
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 Webster City - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Webster City covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Webster City, with the one closest to Webster City listed first.
- Graceland Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graceland Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Graceland Cemetery is a very large cemetery that is located in Webster City.
- The Graceland Cemetery has also been known as:
- Funk Cemetery
- Webster City Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #94905 <2>
- Calvary Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calvary Cemetery
- The Calvary Cemetery has also been known as:
- Calvary Catholic Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #94391 <2>
- Cass Center Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Cass Creek Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Saratoga Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Community Church Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- French Church Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Homer Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Zion Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- First Presbyterian Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Blairsburg Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Washington Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Continue List (196 more) ...
- Liberty Twp. Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- St. Josephs Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Washington Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
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.<4>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Webster City had a population of 2,829 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Webster City had a population of 7,647 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Webster City, with the one closest to Webster City listed first.
- Kamrar
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Flugstad ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Flugstad is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flugstad
- Woolstock
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Woolstock is located in Wright County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woolstock
- Population from the 2020 Census: 159 people
- Homer
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Homer is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Homer
- Blairsburg
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Blairsburg is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blairsburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 199 people
- Duncombe
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Brushy
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Brushy is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brushy
- Judd
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Judd is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Judd
- Border Plains
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Border Plains is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Border Plains
- Stanhope
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Stanhope is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stanhope
- Population from the 2020 Census: 394 people
- Evanston
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Evanston is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evanston
- Lehigh
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (20 more) ...
- Vincent
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Vincent is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vincent
- Population from the 2020 Census: 158 people
- Stratford
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Jewell
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Jewell is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jewell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,138 people
- Jewell has also been known as:
- Jewell Junction
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Jewell <1>
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Webster City. See our List of 1890's Communities around Webster City.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Webster City ...
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 123 newspapers that have been published in the area around Webster City.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Webster City. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Webster City and those printed in the larger area surrounding Webster City.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3> of Webster City.
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 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 Webster City:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Hamilton County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Boone County
- Franklin County
- Greene County
- Hardin County
- Humboldt County
- Story County
- Webster County
- Wright 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> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or 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- Webster City) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <4> | 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 Webster City, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |