RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Iowa >> Plymouth County >> Wren >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 Wren (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 Wren. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.

Wren 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 Wren. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Wren:

  • Plymouth County     (The home county of Wren)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wren, with the one closest to Wren listed first.
    • Hinton
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • James
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • James is located in Plymouth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for James
    • Merrill
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Adaville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Adaville is located in Plymouth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adaville
    • Millnerville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Millnerville is located in Plymouth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millnerville
    • Brunsville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Brunsville is located in Plymouth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brunsville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 152 people
    • Le Mars
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • O'Leary
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • O'Leary is located in Plymouth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for O'Leary
    • Kingsley
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Oyens
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Oyens is located in Plymouth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oyens
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 102 people
    • Craig
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Craig is located in Plymouth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Craig
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 91 people
    • Struble
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Struble is located in Plymouth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Struble
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 77 people
  • Cherokee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wren, with the one closest to Wren listed first.
    • Fielding
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Fielding is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fielding
    • Marcus
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Washta
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Washta is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Washta
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 222 people
  • Sioux County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wren, with the one closest to Wren listed first.
    • McNally
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • McNally is located in Sioux County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McNally
    • Ireton
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Maurice
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Maurice is located in Sioux County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maurice
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 270 people
    • Chatsworth
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Chatsworth is located in Sioux County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chatsworth
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 81 people
    • Hawarden
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Alton
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Orange City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Sioux Center
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
    • Westbrook Village
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Westbrook Village is located in Sioux County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westbrook Village
  • Woodbury County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wren, with the one closest to Wren listed first.
    • Evergreen Village
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Evergreen Village is located in Woodbury County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evergreen Village
    • Holiday Village
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Holiday Village is located in Woodbury County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holiday Village
    • Regency of Sioux City
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Regency of Sioux City is located in Woodbury County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Regency of Sioux City
    • Sioux City
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Lawton
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Lawton is located in Woodbury County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 979 people
    • Glen Ellen
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Glen Ellen is located in Woodbury County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen Ellen
    • Moville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Bronson
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Bronson is located in Woodbury County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bronson
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 318 people
    • Sergeant Bluff
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Pierson
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Pierson is located in Woodbury County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pierson
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 349 people
    • Salix
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Climbing Hill
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Climbing Hill is located in Woodbury County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Climbing Hill
  • Dakota County (NE)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wren, with the one closest to Wren listed first.
    • South Sioux City
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Dakota City
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Jackson
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Willis
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Willis is located in Dakota County (NE)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willis
    • Goodwin
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Goodwin is located in Dakota County (NE)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodwin
    • Hubbard
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Homer
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Homer is located in Dakota County (NE)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Homer
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 520 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Homer <1>
  • Dixon County (NE)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wren, with the one closest to Wren listed first.
    • Ponca
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Ponca is located in Dixon County (NE)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ponca
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 913 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ponca <1>
    • Waterbury
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Martinsburg
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Martinsburg is located in Dixon County (NE)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martinsburg
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 87 people
    • Newcastle
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
  • Thurston County (NE)
    • Winnebago
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
  • Clay County (SD)
  • Union County (SD)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wren, with the one closest to Wren listed first.
    • North Sioux City
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • McCook Lake
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • McCook Lake is located in Union County (SD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCook Lake
    • Dakota Dunes
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Jefferson
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Richland
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Richland is located in Union County (SD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richland
      • Estimated population in 2014: 215 people
    • Elk Point
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Big Springs
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Big Springs is located in Union County (SD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Springs
    • Spink
      (27 miles [43.5 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
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Junction City is located in Union County (SD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Junction City
    • Nora
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Nora is located in Union County (SD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nora
      • Estimated population in 2014: 240 people

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

Cemeteries Near Wren ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Wren.

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 Wren - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Melbourne Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Hungerford Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Trinity Lutheran Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Family Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Stanton Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Assumption Catholic Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Hillside Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Liberty Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Lincoln Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • St. Pauls Lutheran Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • St. Joseph Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • St. Josephs Catholic Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (121 more) ...
    • Concordia Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Pleasant Valley Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Hancock Twp. Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 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.<4>

While we didn't find Wren in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Wren.

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

  • Hinton
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • James
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • James is located in Plymouth County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for James
  • Potosia
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Potosia is located in Plymouth County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Potosia
  • Merrill
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Neptune
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Neptune is located in Plymouth County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neptune
  • Leeds
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Leeds is located in Woodbury County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leeds
  • Adaville
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Adaville is located in Plymouth County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adaville
  • Crathorne
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Crathorne is located in Plymouth County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crathorne
  • Sioux City
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Le Mars
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Covington ‑ Historic
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Covington is located in Dakota County (NE)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Covington
  • Union Center
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Union Center is located in Plymouth County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Center
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • O'Leary
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • O'Leary is located in Plymouth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for O'Leary
    • Jefferson
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • South Sioux City
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)

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

Newspapers Published in Wren ...

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 138 newspapers that have been published in the area around Wren.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Wren, 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 Wren.

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 websites either 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 Wren:

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 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Wren) 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 Wren, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.