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 Iowa (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 Iowa. 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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors 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.
Iowa is located in Jefferson County.
To see how the shape of Pennsylvania's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Jefferson County: Armstrong, Clarion, Clearfield, Elk, Forest & Indiana.
Below are the counties that are near Iowa. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Iowa:
- Jefferson County (The home county of Iowa)
- The following are listed by their distance from Iowa, with the one closest to Iowa listed first.
- Fuller
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Fuller is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fuller
- Brookville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Green Valley
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Green Valley is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Valley
- Reynoldsville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Sandy Valley
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Sandy Valley is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Valley
- Hazen
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Hazen is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazen
- Warsaw
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Warsaw is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warsaw
- Panic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Panic is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panic
- Coolspring
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Allens Mills
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Allens Mills is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allens Mills
- Wishaw
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Wishaw is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wishaw
- Baxter
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Baxter is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baxter
- Armstrong County
- The following are listed by their distance from Iowa, with the one closest to Iowa listed first.
- McWilliams
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- McWilliams is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McWilliams
- Millville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Millville is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millville
- Eddyville
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Eddyville is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eddyville
- South Bethlehem
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- South Bethlehem is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Bethlehem
- Population from the 2020 Census: 443 people
- Dayton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Putneyville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Putneyville is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Putneyville
- Barnards
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Barnards is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnards
- Deanville
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Deanville is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deanville
- Muff
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Muff is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Muff
- Bryan
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Bryan is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bryan
- Echo
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Echo is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Echo
- Dee
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Dee is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dee
- Clarion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Iowa, with the one closest to Iowa listed first.
- Crates
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Crates is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crates
- Day
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Day is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Day
- Hawthorn
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Waterson
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Waterson is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterson
- Frogtown
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Frogtown is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frogtown
- Cooksburg
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Fairmont City
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Mechanicsville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Mechanicsville is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mechanicsville
- Strattanville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- New Bethlehem
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Brinkerton
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Brinkerton is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brinkerton
- Helen Furnace
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Helen Furnace is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helen Furnace
- Clearfield County
- The following are listed by their distance from Iowa, with the one closest to Iowa listed first.
- DuBois
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Sandy
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Sandy is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy
- Stanley
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Stanley is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stanley
- Helvetia
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Helvetia is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helvetia
- Troutville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Troutville is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Troutville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 222 people
- Luthersburg
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Treasure Lake
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Treasure Lake is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Treasure Lake
- Rockton
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Rockton is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockton
- Laborde
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Laborde is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laborde
- Winterburn
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Winterburn is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winterburn
- Mahaffey
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Bower
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Bower is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bower
- Elk County
- The following are listed by their distance from Iowa, with the one closest to Iowa listed first.
- Millstone
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Millstone is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millstone
- Lake City
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Brockport
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Horton City
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Horton City is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horton City
- Shawmut
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Shawmut is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shawmut
- Hallton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Hallton is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallton
- Challenge
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Challenge is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Challenge
- Kylers Corners
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Kylers Corners is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kylers Corners
- Ridgway
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Scattertown
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Scattertown is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scattertown
- Dagus Mines
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Dagus Mines is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dagus Mines
- Whistletown
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Whistletown is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whistletown
- Forest County
- The following are listed by their distance from Iowa, with the one closest to Iowa listed first.
- Clarington
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Redclyffe
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Redclyffe is located in Forest County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redclyffe
- Gilfoyle
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Gilfoyle is located in Forest County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilfoyle
- Marienville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Marienville is located in Forest County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marienville
- Roses
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Roses is located in Forest County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roses
- Iron City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Iron City is located in Forest County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iron City
- Indiana County
- The following are listed by their distance from Iowa, with the one closest to Iowa listed first.
- Rossiter
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Trade City
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Trade City is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trade City
- Johnsonburg
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Johnsonburg is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnsonburg
- Marchand
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Marchand is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marchand
- Georgeville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Georgeville is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgeville
- Mottarns Mill
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Mottarns Mill is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mottarns Mill
- Savan
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Savan is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Savan
- Rochester Mills
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Rochester Mills is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rochester Mills
- Urey
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Urey is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Urey
- Smicksburg
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Elkin
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Elkin is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkin
- Glen Campbell
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Lawrence County
- Big Run
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Big Run is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Run
- Population from the 2020 Census: 594 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Iowa, see our County-by-County Page for Iowa.
Cemeteries Near Iowa ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Iowa.
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 Iowa - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Iowa covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Iowa, with the one closest to Iowa listed first.
- Knoxdale Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Moore Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Butler Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- St. Johns Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Lakelawn Memorial Park
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Reynoldsville Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- St. Marys Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. Marys Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the St. Marys Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the north of Reynoldsville.
- The St. Marys Cemetery has also been known as:
- St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1111986 <2>
- Conifer Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Coolspring Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coolspring Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Coolspring Cemetery is located outside and to the south of Coolspring.
- Moorhead Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Beulah Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Riggs Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Continue List (126 more) ...
- St. Adrian Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Beechwoods Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Carrier Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carrier Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Carrier Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located less than 2 miles<3> to the southeast of Summerville.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #44528 <2>
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 Iowa in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Iowa.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Iowa, with the one closest to Iowa listed first.
- Emerickville
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Emerickville is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emerickville
- Knox Dale
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Knox Dale is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knox Dale
- Fuller
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Fuller is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fuller
- Brookville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Stanton
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Stanton is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stanton
- Coder
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Coder is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coder
- McGarey
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- McGarey is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McGarey
- Coolspring
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Panic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Panic is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panic
- Reynoldsville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Sandy Valley
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Sandy Valley is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Valley
- Warsaw
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Warsaw is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warsaw
- Continue List (18 more) ...
- Hazen
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Hazen is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazen
- Allens Mills
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Allens Mills is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allens Mills
- Baxter
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Baxter is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baxter
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Iowa. See our List of 1890's Communities around Iowa.
Newspapers Published in Iowa ...
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 55 newspapers that have been published in the area around Iowa.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Iowa, there are papers which were published within 12 miles [19.3 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Iowa.
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 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 Iowa:
- Websites specific to Pennsylvania
- Pages specific to Jefferson County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Armstrong County
- Clarion County
- Clearfield County
- Elk County
- Forest County
- Indiana County
- Lawrence County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Pennsylvania
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> | 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Iowa) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <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 Iowa, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |