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 Whittier (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 Whittier. 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 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.
Whittier 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 Whittier. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Whittier:
- Linn County (The home county of Whittier)
- The following are listed by their distance from Whittier, with the one closest to Whittier listed first.
- Springville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Viola
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Viola is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Viola
- Squaw Creek Village
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Squaw Creek Village is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Squaw Creek Village
- Alburnett
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Central City
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Marion
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Prairieburg
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Prairieburg is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairieburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 190 people
- Bertram
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Bertram is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bertram
- Population from the 2020 Census: 278 people
- Robins
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Robins is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robins
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,570 people
- Paris ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Paris is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paris
- Louisa
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Louisa is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Louisa
- Hiawatha
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Lafayette
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Lafayette is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lafayette
- Benton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Whittier, with the one closest to Whittier listed first.
- Shellsburg
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Atkins
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Urbana
(23 miles [37 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
- Benton City ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Benton City is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton City
- Newhall
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Norway
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Vinton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Watkins
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Watkins is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watkins
- Buchanan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Whittier, with the one closest to Whittier listed first.
- Monti
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Monti is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monti
- Quasqueton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Hamerville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Hamerville is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamerville
- Rowley
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Winthrop
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Winthrop is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winthrop
- Population from the 2020 Census: 848 people
- Cedar County
- The following are listed by their distance from Whittier, with the one closest to Whittier listed first.
- Mechanicsville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Mechanicsville is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mechanicsville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,116 people
- Stanwood
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Cedar Bluff
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- 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
- Clarence
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Cedar Valley
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Cedar Valley is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Valley
- Tipton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- West Branch
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Delaware County
- The following are listed by their distance from Whittier, with the one closest to Whittier listed first.
- Ehler
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Ehler is located in Delaware County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ehler
- Ryan
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Robinson
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Robinson is located in Delaware County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robinson
- Golden
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Golden is located in Delaware County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Golden
- Hopkinton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Delhi
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Delaware
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Delaware is located in Delaware County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delaware
- Population from the 2020 Census: 149 people
- Manchester
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Masonville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Masonville is located in Delaware County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Masonville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 119 people
- Rockville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Rockville is located in Delaware County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockville
- Earlville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Dubuque County
- The following are listed by their distance from Whittier, with the one closest to Whittier listed first.
- Cascade
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Worthington
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Worthington is located in Dubuque County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Worthington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 395 people
- Iowa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Whittier, with the one closest to Whittier listed first.
- Amana
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Middle Amana
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Whittier, with the one closest to Whittier listed first.
- Canton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Canton is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canton
- Monmouth
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Monmouth is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monmouth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 154 people
- Johnson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Whittier, with the one closest to Whittier listed first.
- Solon
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Shueyville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Shueyville is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shueyville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 655 people
- Swisher
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Cou Falls
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Cou Falls is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cou Falls
- Morse
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Morse is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morse
- Elmira
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Elmira is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmira
- North Liberty
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Oakdale
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Oakdale is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakdale
- Oasis
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Oasis is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oasis
- Coralville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Tiffin
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Iowa City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Oxford
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Jones County
- The following are listed by their distance from Whittier, with the one closest to Whittier listed first.
- Stone City
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Stone City is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stone City
- Fairview
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Fairview is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
- Martelle
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Martelle is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martelle
- Population from the 2020 Census: 246 people
- Anamosa
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Morley
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Morley is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 110 people
- Langworthy
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Langworthy is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langworthy
- Amber
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Amber is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amber
- Argand
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Argand is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argand
- Olin
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Monticello
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Center Junction
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Center Junction is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Center Junction
- Estimated population in 2015: 111 people
- Hale
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Hale is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hale
- Onslow
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Whittier, see our County-by-County Page for Whittier.
Cemeteries Near Whittier ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Whittier.
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 Whittier - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Whittier covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Whittier, with the one closest to Whittier listed first.
- Whittier Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Springville Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Gillilan Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Crabapple Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- St. Isdore Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Paralta Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Hopewell Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Jordan's Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Prairie Chapel Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Wilcox Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Hazel Knoll Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Harts Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (289 more) ...
- Martin Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Linn Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Norwich Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
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.<2>
While we didn't find Whittier in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Whittier.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Whittier, with the one closest to Whittier listed first.
- Springville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Paralta
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Paralta is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paralta
- Waubeek
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Waubeek is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waubeek
- Viola
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Viola is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Viola
- Stone City
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Stone City is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stone City
- Fairview
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Fairview is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
- Martelle
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Martelle is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martelle
- Population from the 2020 Census: 246 people
- Marion
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Central City
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Anamosa
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Bertram
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Bertram is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bertram
- Population from the 2020 Census: 278 people
- Prairieburg
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Prairieburg is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairieburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 190 people
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Louisa
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Louisa is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Louisa
- Paris ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Paris is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paris
- Lafayette
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Lafayette is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lafayette
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Whittier. See our List of 1890's Communities around Whittier.
Newspapers Published in Whittier ...
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 85 newspapers that have been published in the area around Whittier.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Whittier, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Whittier.
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 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 Whittier:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Linn County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Benton County
- Buchanan County
- Cedar County
- Delaware County
- Dubuque County
- Iowa County
- Jackson 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> | 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 Whittier, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <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 drawn from Point A (ie- Whittier) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |