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 Woodland Hills (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 Woodland Hills. 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 and doctors 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.
Woodland Hills is located in Polk 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 Polk County: Boone, Dallas, Jasper, Madison, Marion, Story & Warren.
Below are the counties that are near Woodland Hills. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Woodland Hills:
- Polk County (The home county of Woodland Hills)
- The following are listed by their distance from Woodland Hills, with the one closest to Woodland Hills listed first.
- Rising Sun
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Rising Sun is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rising Sun
- Adelphi
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Adelphi is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adelphi
- Pleasant Hill
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Carlisle
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Levey
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Levey is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Levey
- Altoona
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Country Estate Village
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Runnells
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Berwick
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Berwick is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berwick
- Des Moines
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Bondurant
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Mitchellville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Marquisville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Marquisville is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marquisville
- Boone County
- Madrid
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Clarke County
- Liberty
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Liberty is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty
- Dallas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Woodland Hills, with the one closest to Woodland Hills listed first.
- Booneville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Waukee
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Granger
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Van Meter
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- High Bridge
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- High Bridge is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High Bridge
- Dallas Center
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- DeSoto
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Adel
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Xenia
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Xenia is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Xenia
- Jasper County
- The following are listed by their distance from Woodland Hills, with the one closest to Woodland Hills listed first.
- Vandalia
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Vandalia is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vandalia
- Prairie City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Oswalt
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Oswalt is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oswalt
- Colfax
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Valeria
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Valeria is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valeria
- Population from the 2020 Census: 58 people
- Green Castle
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Green Castle is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Castle
- Goddard
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Goddard is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goddard
- Mingo
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Monroe
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Metz
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Metz is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Metz
- Ira
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Ira is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ira
- Clyde
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Clyde is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clyde
- Lambs Grove
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Lambs Grove is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lambs Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 165 people
- Madison County
- The following are listed by their distance from Woodland Hills, with the one closest to Woodland Hills listed first.
- Patterson
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Patterson is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 163 people
- Saint Charles
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Truro
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Woodland Hills, with the one closest to Woodland Hills listed first.
- Swan
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Swan is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swan
- Population from the 2020 Census: 74 people
- Percy ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Percy is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Percy
- Pleasantville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Cordova
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Cordova is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cordova
- Otley
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Knoxville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Bauer
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Bauer is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bauer
- Melcher - Dallas
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Melcher - Dallas is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melcher - Dallas
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,236 people
- Newbern
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Newbern is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newbern
- Howell ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Howell is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howell
- Pella
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Columbia
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Columbia is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbia
- Pershing
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Pershing is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pershing
- Marshall County
- Rhodes
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Rhodes is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rhodes
- Population from the 2020 Census: 298 people
- Story County
- The following are listed by their distance from Woodland Hills, with the one closest to Woodland Hills listed first.
- Maxwell
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Cambridge
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Huxley
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Collins
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Collins is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collins
- Population from the 2020 Census: 472 people
- Slater
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Iowa Center
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Iowa Center is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iowa Center
- Midvale
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Midvale is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midvale
- Kelley
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Shipley
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Shipley is located in Story County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shipley
- Warren County
- The following are listed by their distance from Woodland Hills, with the one closest to Woodland Hills listed first.
- Hartford
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Palmyra
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Palmyra is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmyra
- Lakewood
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Lakewood is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood
- Ackworth
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Ackworth is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ackworth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 105 people
- Sandyville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Sandyville is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandyville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 54 people
- Spring Hill
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Spring Hill is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 65 people
- Indianola
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Orillia
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Orillia is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orillia
- Clarkson ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Clarkson is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarkson
- Prole
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Prole is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prole
- Cumming
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Churchville
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Churchville is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Churchville
- Martensdale
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Woodland Hills, see our County-by-County Page for Woodland Hills.
Cemeteries Near Woodland Hills ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Woodland Hills.
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 Woodland Hills - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Woodland Hills covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Woodland Hills, with the one closest to Woodland Hills listed first.
- Stuart Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Powers - Warren Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Rising Sun Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Wicker Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Spry Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Oakwood Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Avon Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Carlisle Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Harvey Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Canfield Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Laurel Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Middle River Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Continue List (324 more) ...
- Lowman Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Sims Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Elm Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
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 Woodland Hills in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Woodland Hills.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Woodland Hills, with the one closest to Woodland Hills listed first.
- Hastie
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Hastie is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hastie
- Rising Sun
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Rising Sun is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rising Sun
- Adelphi
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Adelphi is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adelphi
- Avon
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Avon is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avon
- Carlisle
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Levey
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Levey is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Levey
- Ivy
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Ivy is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ivy
- East Des Moines
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- East Des Moines is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Des Moines
- Altoona
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Ford
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Ford is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ford
- Runnells
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Hartford
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (18 more) ...
- Palmyra
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Palmyra is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmyra
- Vandalia
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Vandalia is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vandalia
- Berwick
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Berwick is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berwick
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Woodland Hills. See our List of 1890's Communities around Woodland Hills.
Newspapers Published in Woodland Hills ...
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 274 newspapers that have been published in the area around Woodland Hills.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Woodland Hills, there are papers which were published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Woodland Hills.
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 Woodland Hills:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Polk County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Boone County
- Clarke County
- Dallas County
- Jasper County
- Madison County
- Marion County
- Marshall County
- Story County
- Warren 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 Woodland Hills, 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- Woodland Hills) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |