RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Nebraska >> Dixon County >> Wakefield >> Genealogy HelperIndex...










Learn About
The Commemorative
Quarter for
Nebraska

The Commemorative Quarter for Nebraska





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 Wakefield (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 Wakefield. 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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.

Wakefield is primarily located in Dixon County. A portion of Wakefield extends into Wayne County.

To see how the shape of Nebraska's counties have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Dixon County: Cedar, Dakota, Thurston, Wayne, Clay (SD) & Union (SD).

Below are the counties that are near Wakefield. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Wakefield:

  • Dixon County     (The home county of Wakefield)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wakefield, with the one closest to Wakefield listed first.
    • Emerson
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Emerson have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emerson
      • Emerson is located in Dixon County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 789 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Emerson <2>
    • Allen
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Concord
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Concord have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
      • Concord is located in Dixon County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 151 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Concord <2>
    • Dixon
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Waterbury
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Martinsburg
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martinsburg
      • Martinsburg is located in Dixon County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 87 people
    • Ponca
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Newcastle
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Maskell
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Maskell have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maskell
      • Maskell is located in Dixon County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 68 people
  • Burt County
    • Lyons
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lyons have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lyons
      • Lyons is located in Burt County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 800 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lyons <2>
  • Cedar County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wakefield, with the one closest to Wakefield listed first.
    • Laurel
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Belden
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Coleridge
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Coleridge have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coleridge
      • Coleridge is located in Cedar County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 452 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Coleridge <2>
    • Randolph
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Obert
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Obert
      • Obert is located in Cedar County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 22 people
  • Cuming County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wakefield, with the one closest to Wakefield listed first.
    • Wisner
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Beemer
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Bancroft
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Aloys
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aloys
      • Aloys is located in Cuming County
    • West Point
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for West Point have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Point
      • West Point is located in Cuming County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,237 people
      • West Point has also been known as:
      • Westpoint
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for West Point <2>
  • Dakota County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wakefield, with the one closest to Wakefield listed first.
    • Hubbard
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Willis
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willis
      • Willis is located in Dakota County
    • Homer
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Jackson
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Jackson have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jackson
      • Jackson is located in Dakota County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 199 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Jackson <2>
    • Dakota City
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • South Sioux City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for South Sioux City have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Sioux City
      • South Sioux City is located in Dakota County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 12,833 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for South Sioux City <2>
  • Pierce County
    • Wee Town
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Wee Town have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wee Town
      • Wee Town is located in Pierce County
  • Stanton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wakefield, with the one closest to Wakefield listed first.
    • Pilger
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Stanton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Thurston County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wakefield, with the one closest to Wakefield listed first.
    • Thurston
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Thurston have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thurston
      • Thurston is located in Thurston County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 135 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Thurston <2>
    • Pender
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Walthill
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Walthill have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walthill
      • Walthill is located in Thurston County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 836 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Walthill <2>
    • Winnebago
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Winnebago have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winnebago
      • Winnebago is located in Thurston County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 924 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Winnebago <2>
    • Rosalie
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Rosalie have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosalie
      • Rosalie is located in Thurston County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 159 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Rosalie <2>
    • Macy
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Macy have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macy
      • Macy is located in Thurston County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Macy <2>
  • Wayne County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wakefield, with the one closest to Wakefield listed first.
    • Wayne
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Wayne have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wayne
      • Wayne is located in Wayne County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,758 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Wayne <2>
    • Carroll
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Carroll have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carroll
      • Carroll is located in Wayne County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 212 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Carroll <2>
    • Winside
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Sholes
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sholes
      • Sholes is located in Wayne County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 20 people
    • Hoskins
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
  • Monona County (IA)
    • Albaton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albaton
      • Albaton is located in Monona County (IA)
  • Woodbury County (IA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wakefield, with the one closest to Wakefield listed first.
    • Sergeant Bluff
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sergeant Bluff have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sergeant Bluff
      • Sergeant Bluff is located in Woodbury County (IA)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,119 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Sergeant Bluff <2>
    • Sioux City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Glen Ellen
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen Ellen
      • Glen Ellen is located in Woodbury County (IA)
    • Salix
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Salix have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salix
      • Salix is located in Woodbury County (IA)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 364 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Salix <2>
    • Regency of Sioux City
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Regency of Sioux City have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Regency of Sioux City
      • Regency of Sioux City is located in Woodbury County (IA)
  • Union County (SD)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wakefield, with the one closest to Wakefield listed first.
    • Dakota Dunes
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • McCook Lake
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for McCook Lake have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCook Lake
      • McCook Lake is located in Union County (SD)
    • North Sioux City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for North Sioux City have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Sioux City
      • North Sioux City is located in Union County (SD)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,952 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for North Sioux City <2>
    • Jefferson
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Jefferson have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson
      • Jefferson is located in Union County (SD)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 515 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Jefferson <2>
    • Elk Point
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Elk Point have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elk Point
      • Elk Point is located in Union County (SD)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,874 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Elk Point <2>

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Wakefield ...

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 102 newspapers that have been published in the area around Wakefield.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Wakefield. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Wakefield and those printed in the larger area surrounding Wakefield.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3> of Wakefield.

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 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 Wakefield:

Cemeteries Near Wakefield ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Wakefield.

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.

If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).

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

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

  • LaPorte Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the LaPorte Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the LaPorte Cemetery
  • Calvary Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Calvary Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Calvary Cemetery
  • Rose Hill Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Rose Hill Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Rose Hill Cemetery
  • Greenwood Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Greenwood Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Greenwood Cemetery
  • Pleasant Valley Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • St. Paul's Lutheran Church Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • Concord Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Concord Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Concord Cemetery
  • Eastview Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
  • Springbank Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Springbank Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Springbank Cemetery
  • St. Peters Lutheran Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
  • St. Annes Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the St. Annes Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the St. Annes Cemetery
  • Marcus Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Marcus Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Marcus Cemetery
  • Continue List   (88 more) ...
    • St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Jopp Cemetery
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Jopp Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Jopp Cemetery
    • Wood Cemetery
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Wood Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Wood Cemetery

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.<5>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Wakefield had a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Wakefield had a population of 1,362 people.

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

  • Wayne
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Wayne have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wayne
    • Wayne is located in Wayne County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,758 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Wayne <2>
  • Emerson
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Emerson have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emerson
    • Emerson is located in Dixon County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 789 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Emerson <2>
  • Allen
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
  • Concord
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Concord have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
    • Concord is located in Dixon County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 151 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Concord <2>
  • Dixon
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Pender
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Waterbury
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Winside
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
  • Hubbard
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Martinsburg
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martinsburg
    • Martinsburg is located in Dixon County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 87 people
  • Carroll
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Carroll have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carroll
    • Carroll is located in Wayne County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 212 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Carroll <2>
  • Wisner
    (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Homer
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Jackson
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Jackson have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jackson
      • Jackson is located in Dakota County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 199 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Jackson <2>
    • Belden
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)

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

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Wakefield. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.

The official website for Dixon County: www.co.dixon.ne.us/

The official website for State of Nebraska: www.nebraska.gov/

Footnotes ...

<1>The location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required.
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<3>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a '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- Wakefield) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Wakefield. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 42.2671, Longitude: -96.8681    
<4>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.
<5>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 Wakefield, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.




 

Copyright 2024
All Rights Reserved

Thank you for visiting our website.

In closing, please keep in mind that we can not guarantee the accuracy or timeliness of the information on this website, so use with care. We encourage you to double-check the information that is critical to you.

If you've found an error or have additional information that you would like to share, please don't hesitate to write: Click here to contact us.

This page was last modified/updated: 07 Apr 2024