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 Buffalo Center (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 Buffalo Center. 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.
Name Variations for Buffalo Center ...
When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Buffalo Center: Buffalo Ctr. (or less commonly used: Buffalo Cen., Buffalo Cent. or Buffalo Cntr.)
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Buffalo Center. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Buffalo Center.
If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.
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 southwest 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 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 west 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.
Buffalo Center is located in Winnebago County.
To see how the shape of Iowa's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Winnebago County: Cerro Gordo, Hancock, Kossuth, Worth, Faribault (MN) & Freeborn (MN).
Below are the counties that are near Buffalo Center. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Buffalo Center:
- Winnebago County (The home county of Buffalo Center)
- The following are listed by their distance from Buffalo Center, with the one closest to Buffalo Center listed first.
- Rake
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Rake is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 206 people
- Thompson
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Vinje
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Vinje is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vinje
- Leland
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Leland is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 268 people
- Scarville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Forest City
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Lake Mills
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Cerro Gordo County
- Ventura
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Emmet County
- The following are listed by their distance from Buffalo Center, with the one closest to Buffalo Center listed first.
- Armstrong
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Armstrong is located in Emmet County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armstrong
- Population from the 2020 Census: 841 people
- Ringsted
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Hancock County
- The following are listed by their distance from Buffalo Center, with the one closest to Buffalo Center listed first.
- Woden
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Crystal Lake
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Crystal Lake is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crystal Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 228 people
- Hutchins
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Hutchins is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hutchins
- Britt
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Duncan
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Duncan is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duncan
- Garner
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Corwith
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Corwith is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corwith
- Population from the 2020 Census: 245 people
- Kossuth County
- The following are listed by their distance from Buffalo Center, with the one closest to Buffalo Center listed first.
- Lakota
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Lakota is located in Kossuth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakota
- Population from the 2020 Census: 275 people
- German Valley
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- German Valley is located in Kossuth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for German Valley
- Titonka
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Titonka is located in Kossuth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Titonka
- Population from the 2020 Census: 433 people
- Ledyard
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Gerled
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Gerled is located in Kossuth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gerled
- Bancroft
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Bancroft is located in Kossuth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bancroft
- Population from the 2020 Census: 684 people
- Swea City
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Burt
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Burt is located in Kossuth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burt
- Population from the 2020 Census: 493 people
- Wesley
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Wesley is located in Kossuth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wesley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 364 people
- Sexton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Sexton is located in Kossuth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sexton
- Lone Rock
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Seneca
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Seneca is located in Kossuth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seneca
- Algona
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Worth County
- The following are listed by their distance from Buffalo Center, with the one closest to Buffalo Center listed first.
- Bristol
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Bristol is located in Worth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bristol
- Joice
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Joice is located in Worth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joice
- Population from the 2020 Census: 209 people
- Fertile
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Hanlontown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Hanlontown is located in Worth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanlontown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
- Silver Lake
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Silver Lake is located in Worth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Lake
- Faribault County (MN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Buffalo Center, with the one closest to Buffalo Center listed first.
- Elmore
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Elmore is located in Faribault County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmore
- Population from the 2020 Census: 613 people
- Frost
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Frost is located in Faribault County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frost
- Population from the 2020 Census: 181 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Frost <1>
- Bricelyn
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Bricelyn is located in Faribault County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bricelyn
- Population from the 2020 Census: 334 people
- Kiester
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Dell
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Dell is located in Faribault County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dell
- Blue Earth
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Blue Earth is located in Faribault County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Earth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,098 people
- Former name for Blue Earth:
- Blue Earth City
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Blue Earth <1>
- Walters
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Walters is located in Faribault County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walters
- Population from the 2020 Census: 67 people
- Delavan
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Delavan is located in Faribault County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delavan
- Population from the 2020 Census: 166 people
- Easton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Easton is located in Faribault County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Easton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 183 people
- Wells
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Wells is located in Faribault County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wells
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,157 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Wells <1>
- Huntley
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Huntley is located in Faribault County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntley
- Winnebago
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Freeborn County (MN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Buffalo Center, with the one closest to Buffalo Center listed first.
- Emmons
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Emmons is located in Freeborn County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emmons
- Population from the 2020 Census: 380 people
- Conger
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Conger is located in Freeborn County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conger
- Population from the 2020 Census: 144 people
- Alden
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Twin Lakes
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Twin Lakes is located in Freeborn County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin Lakes
- Population from the 2020 Census: 149 people
- Martin County (MN)
- Granada
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Buffalo Center, see our County-by-County Page for Buffalo Center.
Cemeteries Near Buffalo Center ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Buffalo Center.
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 Buffalo Center - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Buffalo Center covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Buffalo Center, with the one closest to Buffalo Center listed first.
- Olena Mound Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Graceland Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- St. Matthews Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- German Lutheran Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Lincoln Twp. Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- West Lutheran Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Ramsey Reformed Church Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- King Twp. Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- East Lutheran Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Maple Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- German Twp. Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Grant Twp. Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Continue List (162 more) ...
- Dan Lemme Farm Graves
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Linden Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Rose Hill Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
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.<3>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Buffalo Center had a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, Buffalo Center had a population of 849 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Buffalo Center, with the one closest to Buffalo Center listed first.
- Rake
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Rake is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 206 people
- Thompson
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- German Valley
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- German Valley is located in Kossuth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for German Valley
- Amund
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Amund is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amund
- Elmore
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Elmore is located in Faribault County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmore
- Population from the 2020 Census: 613 people
- Ledyard
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Crystal Lake
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Crystal Lake is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crystal Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 228 people
- Bancroft
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Bancroft is located in Kossuth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bancroft
- Population from the 2020 Census: 684 people
- Leland
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Leland is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 268 people
- Kiester
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Dell
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Dell is located in Faribault County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dell
- Forest City
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Pilot Grove
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Pilot Grove is located in Faribault County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pilot Grove
- Blue Earth
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Blue Earth is located in Faribault County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Earth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,098 people
- Former name for Blue Earth:
- Blue Earth City
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Blue Earth <1>
- Burt
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Burt is located in Kossuth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burt
- Population from the 2020 Census: 493 people
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Buffalo Center. See our List of 1890's Communities around Buffalo Center.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Buffalo Center ...
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 Buffalo Center.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Buffalo Center. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Buffalo Center and those printed in the larger area surrounding Buffalo Center.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<4> of Buffalo Center.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we 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 Buffalo Center:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Winnebago County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cerro Gordo County
- Emmet County
- Hancock County
- Kossuth County
- Worth County
- Faribault County
- Freeborn County
- Martin County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Iowa
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> | 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 Buffalo Center, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or 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- Buffalo Center) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |