Monona County, Iowa Genealogy

Guide to Monona County, Iowa ancestry, family history, and genealogy birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records. 

Description
The County was named for the Indian word meaning "beautiful valley." The County has Onawa as its seat and the County was created 1851. The County is located in the west central area of the state.

Parent County
1851--Monona County was created 15 January 1851 from Pottawattamie County. It was attached to Harrison County prior to organization 3 April 1854. County seat:  Onawa

Boundary Changes
For animated maps illustrating Iowa County boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Iowa County Boundary Maps" (1816-1872) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

Record Loss
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

Places/Localities
Town/city records in the FamilySearch Catalog

Populated Places
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit HomeTown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:

Neighboring Counties
Crawford • Harrison •  Ida •  Woodbury •  Burt County, Nebraska •  Thurston County, Nebraska

Census
State Census
 * 1895 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1905 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1915 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1925 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Church

 * Records of the American Lutheran Church, Monona County, in Evangelical Lutheran Church in America database at Archives.com ($).

Moorhead


 * Records of the American Lutheran Church, Moorhead, in Evangelical Lutheran Church in America database at Archives.com ($).

Maps

 * Old Antique Atlases &amp; Maps of Iowa

Military

 * 1835-1998 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1861-1949 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1862-1910 - at FamilySearch — index

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1859-1990 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Probate
Online Probate Records


 * 1758 - 1997 Iowa Wills and Probate Records 1758-1997 at Ancestry.com — index and images $

Taxation

 * 1934-1958 - at FamilySearch — index

Births

 * 1850-1939 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1921-1942 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Marriages

 * 1518-1996 - Iowa, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1838-1934 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Deaths

 * 1850-1990 - at FamilySearch - index
 * 1880-1992 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1904-1951 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Societies and Libraries
Monona County Genealogical Society Box 91 Smithland, Iowa 51056 Website

Monona County Historical Museum / Loess Hills Historical Society 101 12th Street PO Box 382 Onawa, IA 51040-0382 Telephone:712-423-3452