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 Wisconsin Dells (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 Wisconsin Dells. 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 southeast 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 south.
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 south 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.
Wisconsin Dells is primarily located in Columbia County. A portion of Wisconsin Dells extends into Sauk County, Adams County and Juneau County.
To see how the shape of Wisconsin's counties have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Columbia County: Adams, Dane, Dodge, Green Lake, Juneau, Marquette & Sauk.
Below are the counties that are near Wisconsin Dells. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Wisconsin Dells:
- Columbia County (The home county of Wisconsin Dells)
- The following are listed by their distance from Wisconsin Dells, with the one closest to Wisconsin Dells listed first.
- Durwards Glen ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Durwards Glen
- Durwards Glen is located in Columbia County
- Portage
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Portage
- Portage is located in Columbia County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 10,381 people
- Harmony Grove
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harmony Grove
- Harmony Grove is located in Columbia County
- Lake Wisconsin
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lake Wisconsin have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Wisconsin
- Lake Wisconsin is located in Columbia County
- Okee
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Okee
- Okee is located in Columbia County
- Pardeeville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Pardeeville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pardeeville
- Pardeeville is located in Columbia County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,053 people
- Wyocena
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyocena
- Wyocena is located in Columbia County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 727 people
- Former names for Wyocena:
- Duck Creek
- Wiocena
- Lodi
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lodi
- Lodi is located in Columbia County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,109 people
- Poynette
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast) - Arlington
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arlington
- Arlington is located in Columbia County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 818 people
- Rio
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast) - North Leeds
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for North Leeds have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Leeds
- North Leeds is located in Columbia County
- Adams County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wisconsin Dells, with the one closest to Wisconsin Dells listed first.
- Plainville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Plainville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plainville
- Plainville is located in Adams County
- Easton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Easton
- Easton is located in Adams County
- Quincy ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quincy
- Quincy is located in Adams County
- Adams
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adams
- Adams is located in Adams County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,905 people
- Friendship
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Friendship have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Friendship
- Friendship is located in Adams County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 676 people
- Arkdale
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arkdale
- Arkdale is located in Adams County
- Dane County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wisconsin Dells, with the one closest to Wisconsin Dells listed first.
- Dane
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast) - Marxville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Iowa County
- Juneau County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wisconsin Dells, with the one closest to Wisconsin Dells listed first.
- Lyndon Station
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lyndon Station have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lyndon Station
- Lyndon Station is located in Juneau County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 485 people
- Lemonweir
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lemonweir
- Lemonweir is located in Juneau County
- Mauston
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest) - Wonewoc
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west) - Union Center
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Union Center have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Center
- Union Center is located in Juneau County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 193 people
- New Lisbon
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Lisbon
- New Lisbon is located in Juneau County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,547 people
- Elroy
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west) - Hustler
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hustler
- Hustler is located in Juneau County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 190 people
- Marquette County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wisconsin Dells, with the one closest to Wisconsin Dells listed first.
- Douglas Center
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Douglas Center have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Douglas Center
- Douglas Center is located in Marquette County
- Oxford
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oxford
- Oxford is located in Marquette County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 604 people
- Endeavor
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east) - Packwaukee
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Packwaukee
- Packwaukee is located in Marquette County
- Glen Oak
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen Oak
- Glen Oak is located in Marquette County
- Westfield
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast) - Montello
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Richland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wisconsin Dells, with the one closest to Wisconsin Dells listed first.
- Cazenovia
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west) - Neptune
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neptune
- Neptune is located in Richland County
- Sauk County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wisconsin Dells, with the one closest to Wisconsin Dells listed first.
- Lake Delton
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lake Delton have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Delton
- Lake Delton is located in Sauk County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,986 people
- Baraboo
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baraboo
- Baraboo is located in Sauk County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 12,121 people
- West Baraboo
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for West Baraboo have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Baraboo
- West Baraboo is located in Sauk County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,416 people
- North Freedom
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for North Freedom have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Freedom
- North Freedom is located in Sauk County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 690 people
- Rock Springs
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Rock Springs have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Springs
- Rock Springs is located in Sauk County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 361 people
- Reedsburg
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest) - Moon Valley
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moon Valley
- Moon Valley is located in Sauk County
- Merrimac
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast) - Loganville
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Loganville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loganville
- Loganville is located in Sauk County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 297 people
- La Valle
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Valle
- La Valle is located in Sauk County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 360 people
- Ironton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west) - Denzer
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denzer
- Denzer is located in Sauk County
- Vernon County
- Hillsboro
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsboro
- Hillsboro is located in Vernon County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,387 people
- Hillsboro
- Waushara County
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Wisconsin Dells, see our County-by-County Page for Wisconsin Dells.
Newspapers Published in Wisconsin Dells ...
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 128 newspapers that have been published in the area around Wisconsin Dells.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Wisconsin Dells, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Wisconsin Dells.
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 Wisconsin Dells:
- Websites specific to Wisconsin
- Jump to Cyndi's List
- Jump to Family Search
- Jump to Genealogy Trails
- Website for the //www.wisconsinhistory.org/
- Pages specific to Columbia County
- Jump to Cyndi's List
- Jump to Family Search
- Jump to Genealogy Trails
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Adams County
- Jump to Cyndi's List
- Jump to Family Search
- Jump to Genealogy Trails
- Dane County
- Jump to Cyndi's List
- Jump to Family Search
- Jump to Genealogy Trails
- Iowa County
- Jump to Cyndi's List
- Jump to Family Search
- Jump to Genealogy Trails
- Juneau County
- Jump to Cyndi's List
- Jump to Family Search
- Jump to Genealogy Trails
- Marquette County
- Jump to Cyndi's List
- Jump to Family Search
- Jump to Genealogy Trails
- Richland County
- Jump to Cyndi's List
- Jump to Family Search
- Jump to Genealogy Trails
- Sauk County
- Jump to Cyndi's List
- Jump to Family Search
- Jump to Genealogy Trails
- Vernon County
- Jump to Cyndi's List
- Jump to Family Search
- Jump to Genealogy Trails
- Waushara County
- Jump to Cyndi's List
- Jump to Family Search
- Jump to Genealogy Trails
- Adams County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Wisconsin
- Cemetery Junction: Cemeteries of Wisconsin
- Cyndi's List
- Cemeteries of Wisconsin
- Cemeteries of Columbia County
- FamilySearch.org: Cemeteries of Wisconsin
- Find-A-Grave: Home Page
- Interment.net
- Cemeteries of Wisconsin
- Cemeteries of Columbia County
Cemeteries Near Wisconsin Dells ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Wisconsin Dells.
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 Wisconsin Dells covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Wisconsin Dells, with the one closest to Wisconsin Dells listed first.
- Spring Grove Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Spring Grove Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #89303 <3>
- Calvary Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Calvary Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #87667 <3>
- Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
- Indian Baptist Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Indian Baptist Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Indian Baptist Cemetery
- Newport Lutheran Church Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)- The Newport Lutheran Church Cemetery has also been known as:
- Newport Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church Cemetery
- Newport Norwegian Lutheran Church Cemetery
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Newport Lutheran Church Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2130958 <3>
- Webster Prairie Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Webster Prairie Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Webster Prairie Cemetery
- Dupless Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Dupless Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Dupless Cemetery
- Dellona Center Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Dellona Center Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Dellona Center Cemetery
- Butterfield Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Butterfield Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #87654 <3>
- Fairfield Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Fairfield Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Fairfield Cemetery
- Hillcrest Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Hillcrest Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #88141 <3>
- All Saints Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the All Saints Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the All Saints Cemetery
- Continue List (223 more) ...
- Olin Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Olin Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Olin Cemetery
- St. Michaels Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the St. Michaels Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the St. Michaels Cemetery
- Walnut Hill Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Walnut Hill Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Walnut Hill Cemetery
- Olin 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.<4>
While we didn't find Wisconsin Dells in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Wisconsin Dells.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Wisconsin Dells, with the one closest to Wisconsin Dells listed first.
- Dell Prairie ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Dell Prairie have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dell Prairie
- Dell Prairie is located in Adams County
- Plainville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Plainville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plainville
- Plainville is located in Adams County
- Big Spring
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Big Spring have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Spring
- Big Spring is located in Adams County
- Lyndon Station
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lyndon Station have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lyndon Station
- Lyndon Station is located in Juneau County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 485 people
- Briggsville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Briggsville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Briggsville
- Briggsville is located in Marquette County
- Baraboo
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baraboo
- Baraboo is located in Sauk County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 12,121 people
- Douglas Center
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Douglas Center have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Douglas Center
- Douglas Center is located in Marquette County
- North Freedom
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for North Freedom have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Freedom
- North Freedom is located in Sauk County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 690 people
- Reedsburg
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest) - White Creek
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for White Creek have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Creek
- White Creek is located in Adams County
- Oxford
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oxford
- Oxford is located in Marquette County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 604 people
- Easton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Easton
- Easton is located in Adams County
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Portage
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Portage
- Portage is located in Columbia County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 10,381 people
- Lemonweir
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lemonweir
- Lemonweir is located in Juneau County
- New Chester ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for New Chester have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Chester
- New Chester is located in Adams County
- Portage
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Wisconsin Dells. See our List of 1890's Communities around Wisconsin Dells.
Off-the-Road Links ...
Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Wisconsin Dells. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.
The official website for Columbia County: www.co.columbia.wi.us/
The official website for State of Wisconsin: https://www.wisconsin.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> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a '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- Wisconsin Dells) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Wisconsin Dells. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 43.6276, Longitude: -89.7692 |
| <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 Wisconsin Dells, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |