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 Cedar Rapids (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 Cedar Rapids. 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 Cedar Rapids ...
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.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
For example, a typical abbreviation for West Cedar Rapids: W. Cedar Rpds.
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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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 Cedar Rapids is located in Linn 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 Linn County: Benton, Buchanan, Cedar, Delaware, Iowa, Johnson & Jones.
Below are the counties that are near West Cedar Rapids. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to West Cedar Rapids:
- Linn County (The home county of West Cedar Rapids)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Cedar Rapids, with the one closest to West Cedar Rapids listed first.
- Cedar Rapids
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Lincolnway Village
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Lincolnway Village is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lincolnway Village
- Cedar Hills
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Cedar Hills is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Hills
- Grand View Village
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Grand View Village is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grand View Village
- Louisa
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Louisa is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Louisa
- Covington
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Covington is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Covington
- Bertram
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Bertram is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bertram
- Population from the 2020 Census: 278 people
- Hiawatha
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Sunset Village
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Sunset Village is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunset Village
- Marion
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Western
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Western is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Western
- Fairfax
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Ely
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Benton County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Cedar Rapids, with the one closest to West Cedar Rapids listed first.
- Atkins
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Shellsburg
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Norway
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Newhall
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Watkins
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Watkins is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watkins
- Benton City ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Benton City is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton City
- Urbana
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Blairstown
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Van Horne
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Van Horne is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Van Horne
- Population from the 2020 Census: 646 people
- Vinton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Spencers Grove
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Spencers Grove is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spencers Grove
- Luzerne
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Luzerne is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Luzerne
- Population from the 2020 Census: 92 people
- Garrison
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Garrison is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garrison
- Population from the 2020 Census: 355 people
- Buchanan County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Cedar Rapids, with the one closest to West Cedar Rapids listed first.
- Hamerville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Hamerville is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamerville
- Monti
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Monti is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monti
- Rowley
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Brandon
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Brandon is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brandon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 320 people
- Quasqueton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Cedar County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Cedar Rapids, with the one closest to West Cedar Rapids listed first.
- Mechanicsville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Mechanicsville is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mechanicsville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,116 people
- Cedar Bluff
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Cedar Bluff is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Bluff
- Buchanan
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Buchanan is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buchanan
- West Branch
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Stanwood
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Cedar Valley
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Cedar Valley is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Valley
- Centerdale
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Centerdale is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerdale
- Downey
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Downey is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Downey
- Springdale
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Springdale is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springdale
- Tipton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Delaware County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Cedar Rapids, with the one closest to West Cedar Rapids listed first.
- Ehler
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Ehler is located in Delaware County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ehler
- Robinson
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Robinson is located in Delaware County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robinson
- Ryan
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Iowa County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Cedar Rapids, with the one closest to West Cedar Rapids listed first.
- Amana
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Middle Amana
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- West Amana
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- West Amana is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Amana
- South Amana
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Conroy
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Conroy is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conroy
- Marengo
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Williamsburg
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Dayton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Dayton is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
- Ladora
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Johnson County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Cedar Rapids, with the one closest to West Cedar Rapids listed first.
- Shueyville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Shueyville is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shueyville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 655 people
- Swisher
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Cou Falls
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Cou Falls is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cou Falls
- Solon
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- North Liberty
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Oakdale
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Oakdale is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakdale
- Oxford
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Tiffin
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Coralville
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Morse
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Morse is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morse
- Elmira
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Elmira is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmira
- Iowa City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- University Heights
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- University Heights is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for University Heights
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,025 people
- Jones County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Cedar Rapids, with the one closest to West Cedar Rapids listed first.
- Martelle
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Martelle is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martelle
- Population from the 2020 Census: 246 people
- Fairview
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Fairview is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
- Stone City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Stone City is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stone City
- Morley
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Morley is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 110 people
- Anamosa
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Olin
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Amber
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Amber is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amber
- Argand
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Argand is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argand
- Langworthy
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Langworthy is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langworthy
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to West Cedar Rapids, see our County-by-County Page for West Cedar Rapids.
Cemeteries Near West Cedar Rapids ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of West Cedar Rapids.
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 Cedar Rapids - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for West Cedar Rapids covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from West Cedar Rapids, with the one closest to West Cedar Rapids listed first.
- Czech National Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Moslem Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Bohemian Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Linwood Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- St. Johns Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Syrian Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Oak Hill Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- St. George Orthodox Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Baker Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Williams Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Mt. Calvary Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery
- The Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery has also been known as:
- Cedar Memorial Cemetery
- Cedar Park Memorial Cemetery
- Continue List (312 more) ...
- Shiloh Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Buffalo Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Oakshade Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
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>
While we didn't find West Cedar Rapids in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of West Cedar Rapids.
These communities are listed based on their distance from West Cedar Rapids, with the one closest to West Cedar Rapids listed first.
- East Rapids
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- East Rapids is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Rapids
- Cedar Rapids
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Louisa
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Louisa is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Louisa
- Covington
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Covington is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Covington
- Fairfax
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Bertram
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Bertram is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bertram
- Population from the 2020 Census: 278 people
- Marion
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Shueyville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Shueyville is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shueyville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 655 people
- Ely
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Palo
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Walford
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Walford is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walford
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,436 people
- Toddville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Atkins
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Mount Vernon
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Paralta
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Paralta is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paralta
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around West Cedar Rapids. See our List of 1890's Communities around West Cedar Rapids.
Newspapers Published in West Cedar Rapids ...
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 151 newspapers that have been published in the area around West Cedar Rapids.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of West Cedar Rapids, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for West Cedar Rapids.
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 professional and volunteer 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 Cedar Rapids:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Linn County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Benton County
- Buchanan County
- Cedar County
- Delaware County
- Iowa County
- Johnson County
- Jones 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 Cedar Rapids, 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' (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- West Cedar Rapids) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |