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 Elm Spring (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 Elm Spring. 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 Elm Spring ...
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.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Elm Spring: Elm Spg. (or less commonly used: Elm Spng. or Elm Sprng.)
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 northeast 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 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 east 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.
Elm Spring is located in Sioux 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 Sioux County: Lyon, O'Brien, Plymouth, Lincoln (SD) & Union (SD).
Below are the counties that are near Elm Spring. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Elm Spring:
- Sioux County (The home county of Elm Spring)
- The following are listed by their distance from Elm Spring, with the one closest to Elm Spring listed first.
- Rock Valley
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Lebanon
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Lebanon is located in Sioux County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lebanon
- Perkins
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Perkins is located in Sioux County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perkins
- Hull
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Hawarden
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Sioux Center
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Westbrook Village
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Westbrook Village is located in Sioux County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westbrook Village
- Ireton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Middleburg
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Middleburg is located in Sioux County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middleburg
- Boyden
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Boyden is located in Sioux County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyden
- Population from the 2020 Census: 682 people
- McNally
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- McNally is located in Sioux County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McNally
- Chatsworth
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Chatsworth is located in Sioux County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chatsworth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 81 people
- Lyon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Elm Spring, with the one closest to Elm Spring listed first.
- Inwood
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Beloit
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Beloit is located in Lyon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beloit
- Klondike
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Klondike is located in Lyon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Klondike
- Alvord
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Larchwood
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Lester
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Lester is located in Lyon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lester
- Population from the 2020 Census: 303 people
- Doon
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Rock Rapids
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Edna
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Edna is located in Lyon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edna
- George
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Plymouth County
- Craig
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Craig is located in Plymouth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Craig
- Population from the 2020 Census: 91 people
- Nobles County (MN)
- Ellsworth
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Rock County (MN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Elm Spring, with the one closest to Elm Spring listed first.
- Bruce
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Bruce is located in Rock County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bruce
- Hills
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Steen
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Steen is located in Rock County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steen
- Population from the 2020 Census: 164 people
- Manley
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Manley is located in Rock County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manley
- Beaver Creek
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Beaver Creek is located in Rock County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver Creek
- Population from the 2020 Census: 283 people
- Ash Creek
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Ash Creek is located in Rock County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ash Creek
- Kanaranzi
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Luverne
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Magnolia
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Magnolia is located in Rock County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnolia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 208 people
- Clay County (SD)
- The following are listed by their distance from Elm Spring, with the one closest to Elm Spring listed first.
- Glenwood ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Glenwood is located in Clay County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenwood
- Estimated population in 2014: 103 people
- Komstad ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Komstad is located in Clay County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Komstad
- Estimated population in 2014: 12 people
- Alsen
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Alsen is located in Clay County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alsen
- Riverside ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Riverside is located in Clay County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverside
- Lincoln County (SD)
- The following are listed by their distance from Elm Spring, with the one closest to Elm Spring listed first.
- Canton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Fairview
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Hudson
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Moe
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Moe is located in Lincoln County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moe
- Harrisburg
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Shindler
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Shindler is located in Lincoln County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shindler
- Population from the 2010 Census: 584 people
- Worthing
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Tea
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Tea is located in Lincoln County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tea
- Population from the 2020 Census: 6,405 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Tea <1>
- Lennox
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Minnehaha County (SD)
- The following are listed by their distance from Elm Spring, with the one closest to Elm Spring listed first.
- Rowena
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Split Rock Heights
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Split Rock Heights is located in Minnehaha County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Split Rock Heights
- Estimated population in 2014: 216 people
- Valley Springs
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Pine Lakes Addition
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Pine Lakes Addition is located in Minnehaha County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Lakes Addition
- Population from the 2010 Census: 314 people
- Brandon
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Sioux Falls
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Hayward Addition
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Hayward Addition is located in Minnehaha County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hayward Addition
- Estimated population in 2014: 380 people
- Norton Acres
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Norton Acres is located in Minnehaha County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norton Acres
- Population from the 2010 Census: 342 people
- Silver Valley Addition
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Silver Valley Addition is located in Minnehaha County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Valley Addition
- Estimated population in 2014: 112 people
- Webster Grove Addition
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Webster Grove Addition is located in Minnehaha County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster Grove Addition
- Estimated population in 2014: 156 people
- El Rancho Acres
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- El Rancho Acres is located in Minnehaha County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for El Rancho Acres
- Estimated population in 2014: 27 people
- Meadow View Addition
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Meadow View Addition is located in Minnehaha County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadow View Addition
- Population from the 2010 Census: 538 people
- Turner County (SD)
- The following are listed by their distance from Elm Spring, with the one closest to Elm Spring listed first.
- Chancellor
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Davis
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Centerville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Hooker
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Hooker is located in Turner County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hooker
- Hurley
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Union County (SD)
- The following are listed by their distance from Elm Spring, with the one closest to Elm Spring listed first.
- Alcester
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Beresford
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Beresford is located in Union County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beresford
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,043 people
- Former name for Beresford:
- Paris
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Beresford <1>
- Big Springs
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Big Springs is located in Union County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Springs
- Emmet
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Emmet is located in Union County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emmet
- Estimated population in 2014: 231 people
- Nora
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Nora is located in Union County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nora
- Estimated population in 2014: 240 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Elm Spring, see our County-by-County Page for Elm Spring.
Cemeteries Near Elm Spring ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Elm Spring.
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 Elm Spring - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Elm Spring covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Elm Spring, with the one closest to Elm Spring listed first.
- Our Saviors Lutheran Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Beloit Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Bethlehem Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Canton Lutheran Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canton Lutheran Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Canton Lutheran Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the northeast of Canton (SD).
- The Canton Lutheran Cemetery has also been known as:
- Canton Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #96860 <2>
- Bragstad Family Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Richland Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Sioux Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Bethany Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Forest Hill Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Fairview Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- St. Marys Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Grandview Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (126 more) ...
- Larchwood Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- North Trinity Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Apostolic Christian Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
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 Elm Spring in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Elm Spring.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Elm Spring, with the one closest to Elm Spring listed first.
- Inwood
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Beloit
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Beloit is located in Lyon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beloit
- Canton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Fairview
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Alvord
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Larchwood
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Granite
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Granite is located in Lyon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granite
- Moe
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Moe is located in Lincoln County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moe
- Rock Valley
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Lester
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Lester is located in Lyon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lester
- Population from the 2020 Census: 303 people
- Doon
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Shindler
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Shindler is located in Lincoln County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shindler
- Population from the 2010 Census: 584 people
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Benclare
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Benclare is located in Minnehaha County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benclare
- Harrisburg
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Worthing
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Elm Spring. See our List of 1890's Communities around Elm Spring.
Newspapers Published in Elm Spring ...
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 114 newspapers that have been published in the area around Elm Spring.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Elm Spring, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Elm Spring.
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 either 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 Elm Spring:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Sioux County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Lyon County
- Plymouth County
- Nobles County
- Rock County
- Clay County
- Lincoln County
- Minnehaha County
- Turner County
- Union 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> | 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- Elm Spring) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <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 Elm Spring, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |