Cerro Gordo County, Iowa Genealogy

Guide to Cerro Gordo 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 Battle of Cerro Gordo. The County has Mason City as its seat and the County was created 1851. The County is located in the central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Cerro Gordo County Courthouse 220 North Washington Avenue Mason City, Iowa 50401

(641) 421-3056 Cerro Gordo County

Parent County
1851--Cerro Gordo County was created 15 January 1851 from unorganized territory. It was attached to Floyd County prior to organization 29 December 1855. County seat:  Mason City

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
Butler • Floyd •  Franklin •  Hancock •  Mitchell •  Winnebago •  Worth •  Wright

Cemeteries
1224 S Washington Ave Mason City Iowa USA 50401 Phone: 641-421-3687
 * Elmwood Cemetery (also known as Elmwood - St. Joseph's Cemetery)

11495 265th St Mason City, IA 50401 866-282-2372
 * Memorial Park Cemetery - located outside of city limits

located off of N 20th St and 7th Avenue N Clear Lake, IA
 * Clear Lake Cemetery


 * Cemetery records are kept by the Public Works Office, located just by the cemetery

IOOF Cemetery 1037 19th Street South West Mason City Iowa 50401 Lincoln Township Cemetery: (FHL book 973 V3g, Vol. 5, page 200; film 599835, item 2)

Census
Iowa recorded not only the federal census but state census through out the years too. The state census contains very valuable genealogical information. Where the census information can be found, what years it was taken, mortality schedules, census substitutions and much more is discussed in the very informative Iowa Census article.

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

Lutheran

 * Records of the St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Rockwell, in Evangelical Lutheran Church in America database at Archives.com ($).

Gazette

 * Mason City Globe Gazette (Mason City, Iowa) at Ancestry.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

Civil War

 * - 2nd Regiment, Iowa Cavalry, Company I
 * - 2nd Regiment, Iowa Cavalry, Company I

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1859-1990 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Newspapers
NewspaperArchive.com ($) has a large collection of digitized Iowa newspapers online. This database is sometimes free at libraries.


 * Mason City Globe Gazette. Mason City, IA, USA. Online at: Ancestry.com ($)

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 image

Deaths

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

Societies and Libraries
North Central Iowa Genealogical Society Nine northern Iowa Counties Mason City Public Library P.O. Box 237225 Second St. SE Mason City, Iowa 50402-0237 E-mail: [mailto:ncigso@gmail.com ncigso@gmail.com] Website

Family History Centers



 * Mason City Iowa Family History Center 1309 S Kentucky Ave. S, Mason City, IA 50401 Location Map