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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 Williams (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 Williams. 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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most 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.

Williams is located in Hamilton County.

To see how the shape of Iowa's counties have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Hamilton County: Boone, Franklin, Hardin, Story, Webster & Wright.

Below are the counties that are near Williams. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Williams:

  • Hamilton County     (The home county of Williams)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Williams, with the one closest to Williams listed first.
    • Blairsburg
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Blairsburg have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blairsburg
      • Blairsburg is located in Hamilton County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 199 people
    • Kamrar
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Ellsworth
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Jewell
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Webster City
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Webster City have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster City
      • Webster City is located in Hamilton County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 7,647 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Webster City <2>
    • Randall
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Stanhope
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Stanhope have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stanhope
      • Stanhope is located in Hamilton County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 394 people
    • Stratford
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Stratford have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stratford
      • Stratford is located in Hamilton County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 692 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Stratford <2>
  • Boone County
    • Mackey
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Mackey. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mackey
      • Mackey is located in Boone County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Mackey
      • From Williams to Mackey
  • Butler County
    • Austinville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Austinville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Austinville
      • Austinville is located in Butler County
  • Cerro Gordo County
    • Meservey
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Meservey have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meservey
      • Meservey is located in Cerro Gordo County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 237 people
  • Franklin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Williams, with the one closest to Williams listed first.
    • Oakland
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Popejoy
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Popejoy have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Popejoy
      • Popejoy is located in Franklin County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 74 people
    • Bradford
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bradford have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradford
      • Bradford is located in Franklin County
    • Coulter
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Reeve
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Reeve. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reeve
      • Reeve is located in Franklin County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Reeve
      • From Williams to Reeve
    • Latimer
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Latimer have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Latimer
      • Latimer is located in Franklin County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 463 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Latimer <2>
    • Alexander
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Faulkner
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Faulkner. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Faulkner
      • Faulkner is located in Franklin County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Faulkner
      • From Williams to Faulkner
    • Geneva
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Geneva have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Geneva
      • Geneva is located in Franklin County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 154 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Geneva <2>
    • Hampton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hampton have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hampton
      • Hampton is located in Franklin County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,162 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hampton <2>
    • Chapin
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Hansell
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Hancock County
  • Hardin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Williams, with the one closest to Williams listed first.
    • Alden
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Buckeye
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Buckeye have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckeye
      • Buckeye is located in Hardin County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 107 people
    • Radcliffe
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Iowa Falls
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Iowa Falls have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iowa Falls
      • Iowa Falls is located in Hardin County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,940 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Iowa Falls <2>
    • Owasa
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Hubbard
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hubbard have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hubbard
      • Hubbard is located in Hardin County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 793 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hubbard <2>
    • Garden City
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Garden City have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden City
      • Garden City is located in Hardin County
    • Eagle City
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Eagle City have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagle City
      • Eagle City is located in Hardin County
    • Robertson
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • New Providence
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for New Providence. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Providence
      • New Providence is located in Hardin County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to New Providence
      • From Williams to New Providence
    • Abbott
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Abbott. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abbott
      • Abbott is located in Hardin County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Abbott
      • From Williams to Abbott
    • Eldora
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Eldora have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eldora
      • Eldora is located in Hardin County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,571 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Eldora <2>
  • Humboldt County
  • Marshall County
    • Saint Anthony
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Saint Anthony have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Anthony
      • Saint Anthony is located in Marshall County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 101 people
  • Story County
  • Webster County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Williams, with the one closest to Williams listed first.
    • Duncombe
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Brushy
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Vincent
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Vincent have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vincent
      • Vincent is located in Webster County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 158 people
    • Border Plains
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Evanston
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Lehigh
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Coalville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Cypsum City ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cypsum City have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cypsum City
      • Cypsum City is located in Webster County
    • Burnside
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
    • Kalo
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Wright County

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Williams, see our County-by-County Page for Williams.

Cemeteries Near Williams ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Williams.

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.

If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Williams covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Williams, with the one closest to Williams listed first.

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.<6>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Williams had a population of 193 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Williams had a population of 319 people.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Williams, with the one closest to Williams listed first.

  • Blairsburg
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Blairsburg have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blairsburg
    • Blairsburg is located in Hamilton County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 199 people
  • Alden
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Popejoy
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Popejoy have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Popejoy
    • Popejoy is located in Franklin County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 74 people
  • Burdette
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Burdette have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burdette
    • Burdette is located in Franklin County
  • Kamrar
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Dows
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
  • Ellsworth
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
  • Jewell
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
  • Radcliffe
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Galt
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
  • Iowa Falls
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Iowa Falls have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iowa Falls
    • Iowa Falls is located in Hardin County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,940 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Iowa Falls <2>
  • Webster City
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Webster City have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster City
    • Webster City is located in Hamilton County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 7,647 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Webster City <2>
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Williams. See our List of 1890's Communities around Williams.

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Williams ...

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 120 newspapers that have been published in the area around Williams.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Williams. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Williams and those printed in the larger area surrounding Williams.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<5> of Williams.

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 Williams:

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Williams. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.

The official website for State of Iowa: https://www.iowa.gov/

Footnotes ...

<1>The location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required.
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<3>An 'estimated' location is one where we have been given GPS coordinates, but are unable to verify the accuracy of those coordinates. That said, we have some confidence that we have placed the marker near the actual location. A typical reason for being unable to verify a location is that it might be on private property or maybe historic and gone without an obvious trace.
<4>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.
<5>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or 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- Williams) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Williams. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 42.4882, Longitude: -93.5435    
<6>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 Williams, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.




 

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This page was last modified/updated: 28 Apr 2025