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 West Burlington (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 West Burlington. 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 West Burlington ...
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.
For example, a typical abbreviation for West Burlington: W. Burlington
You might be interested in other communities that are also named West Burlington. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for West Burlington.
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.
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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the east. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the north.
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 north 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.
West Burlington is located in Des Moines 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 Des Moines County: Henry, Lee, Louisa, Hancock (IL) & Henderson (IL).
Below are the counties that are near West Burlington. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to West Burlington:
- Des Moines County (The home county of West Burlington)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Burlington, with the one closest to West Burlington listed first.
- Burlington
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Middletown
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Middletown is located in Des Moines County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middletown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 335 people
- Patterson
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Patterson is located in Des Moines County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson
- Kline
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Kline is located in Des Moines County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kline
- Danville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Danville is located in Des Moines County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 896 people
- Dodgeville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Dodgeville is located in Des Moines County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dodgeville
- Sperry
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Sperry is located in Des Moines County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sperry
- Mediapolis
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Kingston
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Kingston is located in Des Moines County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingston
- Yarmouth
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Henry County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Burlington, with the one closest to West Burlington listed first.
- New London
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Lowell
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Lowell is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowell
- Mount Union
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Mount Union is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Union
- Estimated population in 2017: 107 people
- Mount Pleasant
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Salem
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Oakland Mills
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Oakland Mills is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland Mills
- Winfield
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Westwood
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Westwood is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 107 people
- Swedesburg
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Swedesburg is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swedesburg
- Olds
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Olds is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olds
- Population from the 2020 Census: 222 people
- Hillsboro
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Hillsboro is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsboro
- Population from the 2020 Census: 173 people
- Rome
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Rome is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rome
- Population from the 2020 Census: 117 people
- Lee County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Burlington, with the one closest to West Burlington listed first.
- South Augusta
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- South Augusta is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Augusta
- Wever
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Denmark
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Sawyer
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Sawyer is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sawyer
- Former names for Sawyer:
- Atlee
- Edwards
- Fort Madison
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- West Point
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Saint Paul
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Saint Paul is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Paul
- Population from the 2020 Census: 123 people
- Pilot Grove
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Pilot Grove is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pilot Grove
- Franklin
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Franklin is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franklin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 132 people
- Jeffersonville ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Jeffersonville is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeffersonville
- Houghton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Houghton is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Houghton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 135 people
- Donnellson
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Louisa County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Burlington, with the one closest to West Burlington listed first.
- Elrick Junction
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Elrick Junction is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elrick Junction
- Morning Sun
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Oakville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Wapello
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Wapello is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wapello
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,999 people
- Wyman
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Wyman is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyman
- Hancock County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Burlington, with the one closest to West Burlington listed first.
- Dallas City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Pontoosuc
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Pontoosuc is located in Hancock County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pontoosuc
- Population from the 2020 Census: 132 people
- Niota
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Disco
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Disco is located in Hancock County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Disco
- Colusa
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- La Harpe
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- La Harpe is located in Hancock County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Harpe
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,123 people
- Adrian
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Powellton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Powellton is located in Hancock County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powellton
- Nauvoo
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Burnside
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Burnside is located in Hancock County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnside
- Ferris
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Fountain Green
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Fountain Green is located in Hancock County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fountain Green
- Henderson County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Burlington, with the one closest to West Burlington listed first.
- Gulf Port
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Gulf Port is located in Henderson County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gulf Port
- Population from the 2020 Census: 46 people
- Carman
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Gladstone
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Iowa Junction
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Iowa Junction is located in Henderson County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iowa Junction
- Lomax
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Lomax is located in Henderson County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lomax
- Population from the 2020 Census: 393 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lomax <1>
- Olena
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Olena is located in Henderson County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olena
- Stronghurst
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Oquawka
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Terre Haute
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Terre Haute is located in Henderson County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terre Haute
- Biggsville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Biggsville is located in Henderson County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Biggsville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 273 people
- Media
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Media is located in Henderson County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Media
- Population from the 2020 Census: 93 people
- Milroy
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Milroy is located in Henderson County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milroy
- McDonough County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Burlington, with the one closest to West Burlington listed first.
- Blandinsville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Sciota
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- VIshnu Springs ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- VIshnu Springs is located in McDonough County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for VIshnu Springs
- Mercer County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Burlington, with the one closest to West Burlington listed first.
- Keithsburg
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- New Boston
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Seaton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Mannon
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Mannon is located in Mercer County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mannon
- Joy
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Joy is located in Mercer County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 377 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Joy <1>
- Warren County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Burlington, with the one closest to West Burlington listed first.
- Smithshire
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Kirkwood
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Little York
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Roseville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Eleanor
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Eleanor is located in Warren County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eleanor
- Monmouth
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to West Burlington, see our County-by-County Page for West Burlington.
Cemeteries Near West Burlington ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of West Burlington.
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 West Burlington - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for West Burlington covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from West Burlington, with the one closest to West Burlington listed first.
- St. Mary's Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Spring Creek Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Greenwood Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Memorial Park
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Schnupper Farm Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Johnson Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Old County Home Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Burlington Jewish Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Flint River Twp. Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Swede Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Porter Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Burlington RC Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Continue List (406 more) ...
- North Sixth Street Catholic Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Sixth Street Catholic Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Aspen Grove Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
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 West Burlington had a population of 836 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, West Burlington had a population of 2,875 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from West Burlington, with the one closest to West Burlington listed first.
- Burlington
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Middletown
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Middletown is located in Des Moines County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middletown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 335 people
- Patterson
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Patterson is located in Des Moines County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson
- Augusta
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Augusta is located in Des Moines County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Augusta
- Latty
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Latty is located in Des Moines County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Latty
- Danville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Danville is located in Des Moines County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 896 people
- Wever
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Dodgeville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Dodgeville is located in Des Moines County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dodgeville
- Carman
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Denmark
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Sperry
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Sperry is located in Des Moines County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sperry
- Lomax
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Lomax is located in Henderson County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lomax
- Population from the 2020 Census: 393 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lomax <1>
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Iowa Junction
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Iowa Junction is located in Henderson County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iowa Junction
- Gladstone
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Pleasant Grove
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Pleasant Grove is located in Des Moines County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Grove
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around West Burlington. See our List of 1890's Communities around West Burlington.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of West Burlington ...
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 122 newspapers that have been published in the area around West Burlington.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of West Burlington. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of West Burlington and those printed in the larger area surrounding West Burlington.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<4> of West Burlington.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we begin 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 West Burlington:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Des Moines County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Henry County
- Lee County
- Louisa County
- Hancock County
- Henderson County
- McDonough County
- Mercer County
- Warren 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> | 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 West Burlington, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- West Burlington) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |