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 Chester (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 Chester. 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 Chester ...
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 Chester: W. Chester
You might be interested in other communities that are also named West Chester. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for West Chester.
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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most 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.
West Chester is located in Washington 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 Washington County: Henry, Iowa, Jefferson, Johnson, Keokuk & Louisa.
Below are the counties that are near West Chester. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to West Chester:
- Washington County (The home county of West Chester)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Chester, with the one closest to West Chester listed first.
- Washington
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Wellman
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Nira
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Nira is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nira
- Rubio
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Rubio is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rubio
- Kalona
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Brighton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Havre
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Havre is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Havre
- Coppock
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Coppock is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coppock
- Population from the 2020 Census: 48 people
- Ainsworth
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Riverside
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Crawfordsville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Cedar County
- Downey
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Downey is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Downey
- Henry County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Chester, with the one closest to West Chester listed first.
- Wayland
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Olds
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Olds is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olds
- Population from the 2020 Census: 222 people
- Swedesburg
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Swedesburg is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swedesburg
- Winfield
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Rome
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Rome is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rome
- Population from the 2020 Census: 117 people
- Westwood
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Westwood is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 107 people
- Oakland Mills
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Oakland Mills is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland Mills
- Mount Pleasant
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Mount Union
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Mount Union is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Union
- Estimated population in 2017: 107 people
- Iowa County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Chester, with the one closest to West Chester listed first.
- North English
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Parnell
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Millersburg
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Millersburg is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millersburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 139 people
- Williamsburg
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Ambrose
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Ambrose is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ambrose
- Conroy
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Conroy is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conroy
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Chester, with the one closest to West Chester listed first.
- Pleasant Plain
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Pleasant Plain is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Plain
- Population from the 2020 Census: 98 people
- Perlee
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Perlee is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perlee
- Packwood
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Packwood is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Packwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 225 people
- Linby
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Linby is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linby
- Pekin
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Pekin is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pekin
- Maharishi Vedic City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Maharishi Vedic City is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maharishi Vedic City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,288 people
- Fairfield
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Lockridge
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Abingdon
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Abingdon is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abingdon
- Glasgow
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Glasgow is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glasgow
- Batavia
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Libertyville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Libertyville is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Libertyville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 341 people
- Johnson County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Chester, with the one closest to West Chester listed first.
- Amish
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Amish is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amish
- Frytown
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Frytown is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frytown
- Williamstown
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Williamstown is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamstown
- Windham
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Windham is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windham
- River Junction
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- River Junction is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for River Junction
- Hills
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Cosgrove
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Cosgrove is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cosgrove
- Lone Tree
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- University Heights
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- University Heights is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for University Heights
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,025 people
- Oxford
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Tiffin
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Iowa City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Keokuk County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Chester, with the one closest to West Chester listed first.
- Keota
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Talleyrand
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Talleyrand is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Talleyrand
- Kinross
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Kinross is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kinross
- Population from the 2020 Census: 71 people
- Harper
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Harper is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harper
- Population from the 2020 Census: 107 people
- Richland
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- South English
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- South English is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South English
- Population from the 2020 Census: 211 people
- Ollie
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Ollie is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ollie
- Population from the 2020 Census: 207 people
- Webster
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Webster is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
- Population from the 2020 Census: 71 people
- Sigourney
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Nugent
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Nugent is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nugent
- Hayesville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Hayesville is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hayesville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 48 people
- Keswick
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Louisa County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Chester, with the one closest to West Chester listed first.
- Cotter
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Cotter is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cotter
- Population from the 2020 Census: 42 people
- Gladwin
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Gladwin is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gladwin
- Wyman
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Wyman is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyman
- Columbus City
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Columbus City is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbus City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 371 people
- Columbus Junction
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Fredonia
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Fredonia is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fredonia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
- Letts
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Muscatine County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Chester, with the one closest to West Chester listed first.
- Conesville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Conesville is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conesville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 427 people
- Nichols
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Nichols is located in Muscatine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nichols
- Population from the 2020 Census: 358 people
- Poweshiek County
- Tilton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Tilton is located in Poweshiek County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tilton
- Wapello County
- Competine
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Competine is located in Wapello County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Competine
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to West Chester, see our County-by-County Page for West Chester.
Cemeteries Near West Chester ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of West Chester.
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 Chester - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for West Chester covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from West Chester, with the one closest to West Chester listed first.
- West Chester Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Craven Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Roberts Chapel Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Westminister Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- New Haven Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Philips Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Lexington Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Middleton Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Center Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Bethel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Grace Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Todd Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Continue List (409 more) ...
- County Farm Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Tyrone Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Oak Ridge Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
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 Chester had a population of 98 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, West Chester had a population of 147 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from West Chester, with the one closest to West Chester listed first.
- Lexington
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Lexington is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lexington
- Grace Hill
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Grace Hill is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grace Hill
- Washington
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Keota
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Talleyrand
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Talleyrand is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Talleyrand
- Wellman
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Richmond
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Richmond is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond
- Nira
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Nira is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nira
- Brighton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Kalona
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Havre
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Havre is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Havre
- Kinross
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Kinross is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kinross
- Population from the 2020 Census: 71 people
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Creswell
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Creswell is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creswell
- Harper
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Harper is located in Keokuk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harper
- Population from the 2020 Census: 107 people
- Veo
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Veo is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Veo
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around West Chester. See our List of 1890's Communities around West Chester.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of West Chester ...
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 30 newspapers that have been published in the area around West Chester.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of West Chester. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of West Chester and those printed in the larger area surrounding West Chester.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4> of West Chester.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Chester:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Washington County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cedar County
- Henry County
- Iowa County
- Jefferson County
- Johnson County
- Keokuk County
- Louisa County
- Muscatine County
- Poweshiek County
- Wapello 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 Chester, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | 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- West Chester) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |