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 Westfield (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 Westfield. 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 northeast 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 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.
Westfield is located in Plymouth 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 Plymouth County: Cherokee, Sioux, Woodbury & Union (SD).
Below are the counties that are near Westfield. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Westfield:
- Plymouth County (The home county of Westfield)
- The following are listed by their distance from Westfield, with the one closest to Westfield listed first.
- Akron
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Millnerville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Millnerville is located in Plymouth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millnerville
- Adaville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Adaville is located in Plymouth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adaville
- Brunsville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Brunsville is located in Plymouth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brunsville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 152 people
- Craig
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Craig is located in Plymouth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Craig
- Population from the 2020 Census: 91 people
- Merrill
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Hinton
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- James
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- James is located in Plymouth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for James
- Le Mars
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Struble
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Struble is located in Plymouth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Struble
- Population from the 2020 Census: 77 people
- O'Leary
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- O'Leary is located in Plymouth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for O'Leary
- Oyens
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Oyens is located in Plymouth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oyens
- Population from the 2020 Census: 102 people
- Sioux County
- The following are listed by their distance from Westfield, with the one closest to Westfield listed first.
- Chatsworth
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Chatsworth is located in Sioux County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chatsworth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 81 people
- McNally
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- McNally is located in Sioux County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McNally
- Hawarden
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Ireton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Maurice
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Maurice is located in Sioux County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maurice
- Population from the 2020 Census: 270 people
- Lebanon
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Lebanon is located in Sioux County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lebanon
- Woodbury County
- The following are listed by their distance from Westfield, with the one closest to Westfield listed first.
- Evergreen Village
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Evergreen Village is located in Woodbury County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evergreen Village
- Holiday Village
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Holiday Village is located in Woodbury County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holiday Village
- Sioux City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Regency of Sioux City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Glen Ellen
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Glen Ellen is located in Woodbury County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen Ellen
- Sergeant Bluff
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Lawton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Lawton is located in Woodbury County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 979 people
- Cedar County (NE)
- The following are listed by their distance from Westfield, with the one closest to Westfield listed first.
- Obert
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Obert is located in Cedar County (NE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Obert
- Population from the 2020 Census: 22 people
- Wynot
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Dakota County (NE)
- The following are listed by their distance from Westfield, with the one closest to Westfield listed first.
- Willis
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Willis is located in Dakota County (NE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willis
- Goodwin
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Goodwin is located in Dakota County (NE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodwin
- Jackson
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- South Sioux City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Hubbard
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Dakota City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Homer
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Dixon County (NE)
- The following are listed by their distance from Westfield, with the one closest to Westfield listed first.
- Ponca
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Newcastle
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Maskell
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Maskell is located in Dixon County (NE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maskell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 68 people
- Martinsburg
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Martinsburg is located in Dixon County (NE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martinsburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 87 people
- Waterbury
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Allen
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Dixon
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Clay County (SD)
- The following are listed by their distance from Westfield, with the one closest to Westfield listed first.
- Burbank
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Greenfield
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Greenfield is located in Clay County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenfield
- Estimated population in 2014: 40 people
- Vermillion
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Alsen
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Alsen is located in Clay County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alsen
- Hub City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Hub City is located in Clay County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hub City
- Bloomingdale
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Bloomingdale is located in Clay County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bloomingdale
- Komstad ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Komstad is located in Clay County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Komstad
- Estimated population in 2014: 12 people
- Lodi
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Lodi is located in Clay County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lodi
- Estimated population in 2014: 82 people
- Westreville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Westreville is located in Clay County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westreville
- Population from the 2010 Census: 208 people
- Meckling
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Glenwood ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Glenwood is located in Clay County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenwood
- Estimated population in 2014: 103 people
- Riverside ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Riverside is located in Clay County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverside
- Lincoln County (SD)
- The following are listed by their distance from Westfield, with the one closest to Westfield listed first.
- Hudson
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Moe
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Moe is located in Lincoln County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moe
- Turner County (SD)
- Centerville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Union County (SD)
- The following are listed by their distance from Westfield, with the one closest to Westfield listed first.
- Richland
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Richland is located in Union County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richland
- Estimated population in 2014: 215 people
- Elk Point
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Spink
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Spink is located in Union County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spink
- Estimated population in 2014: 237 people
- Junction City
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Junction City is located in Union County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Junction City
- Jefferson
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Big Springs
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Big Springs is located in Union County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Springs
- Nora
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Nora is located in Union County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nora
- Estimated population in 2014: 240 people
- McCook Lake
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- McCook Lake is located in Union County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCook Lake
- North Sioux City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Emmet
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Emmet is located in Union County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emmet
- Estimated population in 2014: 231 people
- Alcester
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Dakota Dunes
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Yankton County (SD)
- Gayville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Westfield, see our County-by-County Page for Westfield.
Cemeteries Near Westfield ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Westfield.
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 Westfield - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Westfield covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Westfield, with the one closest to Westfield listed first.
- Westfield Twp. Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Richland Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- St. Josephs Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- First Brule Creek Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Old Brule Creek Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- St. Paul Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Union County Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Elk Point Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- St. Joseph Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Mills Family Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Riverside Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Brule Creek Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brule Creek Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Brule Creek Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located less than 2 miles<2> to the southeast of Spink (SD).
- The Brule Creek Cemetery has also been known as:
- Brule Creek Lutheran Church Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1973015 <3>
- Continue List (131 more) ...
- Mt. Hope Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Ahlsborg Lutheran Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- St. Peters Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
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 Westfield had a population of 32 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Westfield had a population of 126 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Westfield, with the one closest to Westfield listed first.
- Richland
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Richland is located in Union County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richland
- Estimated population in 2014: 215 people
- Akron
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Elk Point
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Spink
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Spink is located in Union County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spink
- Estimated population in 2014: 237 people
- Ionia ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Ionia is located in Dixon County (NE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ionia
- Jefferson
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Adaville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Adaville is located in Plymouth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adaville
- Chatsworth
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Chatsworth is located in Sioux County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chatsworth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 81 people
- Burbank
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Big Springs
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Big Springs is located in Union County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Springs
- Nora
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Nora is located in Union County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nora
- Estimated population in 2014: 240 people
- Potosia
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Potosia is located in Plymouth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Potosia
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Ponca
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Crathorne
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Crathorne is located in Plymouth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crathorne
- Greenfield
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Greenfield is located in Clay County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenfield
- Estimated population in 2014: 40 people
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Westfield. See our List of 1890's Communities around Westfield.
Newspapers Published in Westfield ...
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 140 newspapers that have been published in the area around Westfield.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Westfield, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Westfield.
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 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 Westfield:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Plymouth County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Sioux County
- Woodbury County
- Cedar County
- Dakota County
- Dixon County
- Clay County
- Lincoln County
- Turner County
- Union County
- Yankton 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> | 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Westfield) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <3> | 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. |
| <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 Westfield, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |