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 Rapids City (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 Rapids City. 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.
Name Variations for Rapids City ...
When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.
While the name of this village is Rapids City, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Rapids City may originally have been Rapid's City.
Sometimes the trailing 's' might be dropped altogether, in which case Rapids City might be written as Rapid City.
If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.
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 doctors and 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.
Rapids City is located in Rock Island County.
To see how the shape of Illinois' counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Rock Island County: Clinton (IA), Louisa (IA), Muscatine (IA), Scott (IA), Henry, Mercer & Whiteside.
Below are the counties that are near Rapids City. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Rapids City:
- Rock Island County (The home county of Rapids City)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rapids City, with the one closest to Rapids City listed first.
- Port Byron
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Hampton
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Barstow
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Joslin
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Joslin is located in Rock Island County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joslin
- Cordova
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Rustic Acres
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Rustic Acres is located in Rock Island County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rustic Acres
- Carbon Cliff
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Silvis
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- East Moline
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- East Moline is located in Rock Island County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Moline
- Population from the 2020 Census: 20,473 people
- Hillsdale
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Coal Valley
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Moline
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Rock Island
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Bureau County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rapids City, with the one closest to Rapids City listed first.
- Yorktown
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Yorktown is located in Bureau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorktown
- Mineral
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Carroll County
- Thomson
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Henry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rapids City, with the one closest to Rapids City listed first.
- Cleveland
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Cleveland is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cleveland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 178 people
- Dayton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Dayton is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
- Colona
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Green Rock
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Green Rock is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Rock
- Hickory Hills
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Hickory Hills is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Hills
- Briar Bluff
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Briar Bluff is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Briar Bluff
- Morristown
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Morristown is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morristown
- Geneseo
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Orion
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Osco
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Andover
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Lynn Center
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Atkinson
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Mercer County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rapids City, with the one closest to Rapids City listed first.
- Sherrard
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Preemption
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Griffin
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Griffin is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffin
- New Windsor
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- New Windsor is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Windsor
- Windsor
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Windsor is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windsor
- Population from the 2020 Census: 760 people
- Matherville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Viola
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Gilchrist
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Gilchrist is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilchrist
- Shale City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Shale City is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shale City
- Marston
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Marston is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marston
- Whiteside County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rapids City, with the one closest to Rapids City listed first.
- Erie
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Albany
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Newton Corners
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Newton Corners is located in Whiteside County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newton Corners
- Fenton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Pratt ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Pratt is located in Whiteside County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pratt
- Denrock
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Denrock is located in Whiteside County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denrock
- East Clinton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- East Clinton is located in Whiteside County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Clinton
- Prophetstown
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Fulton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Lyndon
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Union Grove
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Union Grove is located in Whiteside County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Grove
- Morrison
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Spring Valley
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Spring Valley is located in Whiteside County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Valley
- Clinton County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rapids City, with the one closest to Rapids City listed first.
- Folletts
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Folletts is located in Clinton County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Folletts
- Shaffton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Shaffton is located in Clinton County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shaffton
- Camanche
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Low Moor
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Clinton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Elvira
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Elvira is located in Clinton County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elvira
- De Witt
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Sixmile
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Sixmile is located in Clinton County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sixmile
- Grand Mound
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Tenmile
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Tenmile is located in Clinton County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tenmile
- Bryant
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Bryant is located in Clinton County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bryant
- Goose Lake
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Goose Lake is located in Clinton County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goose Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
- North Welton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- North Welton is located in Clinton County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Welton
- Muscatine County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rapids City, with the one closest to Rapids City listed first.
- Midway Beach
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Midway Beach is located in Muscatine County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway Beach
- Stockton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Stockton is located in Muscatine County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stockton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 189 people
- Pleasant Prairie
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Pleasant Prairie is located in Muscatine County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Prairie
- Pine Mills ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Pine Mills is located in Muscatine County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Mills
- Fairport
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Fairport is located in Muscatine County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairport
- Scott County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rapids City, with the one closest to Rapids City listed first.
- Le Claire
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Pleasant Valley
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Princeton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Panorama Park
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Panorama Park is located in Scott County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panorama Park
- Population from the 2020 Census: 331 people
- Riverdale
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Riverdale is located in Scott County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverdale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 398 people
- Bettendorf
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- McCausland
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- McCausland is located in Scott County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCausland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 311 people
- Davenport
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Park View
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Park View is located in Scott County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Park View
- Eldridge
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Long Grove
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Noel ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Noel is located in Scott County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Noel
- Donahue
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Rapids City, see our County-by-County Page for Rapids City.
Cemeteries Near Rapids City ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Rapids City.
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 Rapids City - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Rapids City covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Rapids City, with the one closest to Rapids City listed first.
- Old Rapids City Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- St. John's Catholic Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Yost Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Port Byron Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Oak Grove Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Glendale Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Zion Lutheran Church Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Friedens Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Schaefer Family Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Hampton Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Hampton Twp. Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (268 more) ...
- Dana Edwards Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Zuma Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Fairview Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
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 Rapids City had a population of 269 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Rapids City had a population of 962 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Rapids City, with the one closest to Rapids City listed first.
- Le Claire
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Port Byron
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Hampton
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Barstow
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Pleasant Valley
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Cleveland
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Cleveland is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cleveland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 178 people
- Osborn
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Osborn is located in Rock Island County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osborn
- Princeton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Carbon Cliff
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Joslin
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Joslin is located in Rock Island County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joslin
- Cordova
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Green River
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Green River is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green River
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Briar Bluff
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Briar Bluff is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Briar Bluff
- Hillsdale
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Moline
(10 miles [16.1 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 Rapids City. See our List of 1890's Communities around Rapids City.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Rapids City ...
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 163 newspapers that have been published in the area around Rapids City.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Rapids City. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Rapids City and those printed in the larger area surrounding Rapids City.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<5> of Rapids City.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first visit the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These helpful 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 Rapids City:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Rock Island County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bureau County
- Carroll County
- Henry County
- Mercer County
- Whiteside County
- Clinton County
- Muscatine County
- Scott County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Illinois
Footnotes ...
| <1> | It's generally believed that possessive apostrophes are removed to prevent confusion on maps where the apostrophe may be confused with a cartographic symbol. While this is generally true, it's not uncommon to find possessive apostrophes in administrative names (such as towns or counties). |
| <2> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <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 Rapids City, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <5> | 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- Rapids City) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |