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 Emmetsburg (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 Emmetsburg. 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 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.
Emmetsburg is located in Palo Alto County and is the County Seat.
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 Palo Alto County: Buena Vista, Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Humboldt, Kossuth & Pocahontas.
Below are the counties that are near Emmetsburg. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Emmetsburg:
- Palo Alto County (The home county of Emmetsburg)
- The following are listed by their distance from Emmetsburg, with the one closest to Emmetsburg listed first.
- Cylinder
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Cylinder is located in Palo Alto County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cylinder
- Population from the 2020 Census: 84 people
- Graettinger
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Curlew
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Curlew is located in Palo Alto County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curlew
- Population from the 2020 Census: 55 people
- Rodman
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Rodman is located in Palo Alto County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rodman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 41 people
- Ayrshire
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Ruthven
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Mallard
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- West Bend
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Buena Vista County
- The following are listed by their distance from Emmetsburg, with the one closest to Emmetsburg listed first.
- Marathon
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Marathon is located in Buena Vista County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marathon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 228 people
- Albert City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Sioux Rapids
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Clay County
- The following are listed by their distance from Emmetsburg, with the one closest to Emmetsburg listed first.
- Dickens
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Dickens is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dickens
- Population from the 2020 Census: 168 people
- Gillett Grove
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Gillett Grove is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gillett Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 47 people
- Webb
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Webb is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webb
- Population from the 2020 Census: 126 people
- Langdon
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Langdon is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langdon
- Spencer
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Greenville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Cornell
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Cornell is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornell
- Fostoria
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Fostoria is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fostoria
- Population from the 2020 Census: 219 people
- Rossie
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Rossie is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rossie
- Population from the 2020 Census: 67 people
- Royal
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Dickinson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Emmetsburg, with the one closest to Emmetsburg listed first.
- Terril
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Terril is located in Dickinson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terril
- Population from the 2020 Census: 338 people
- Superior
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Milford
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Old Town
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Old Town is located in Dickinson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Town
- Arnolds Park
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- West Okoboji
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- West Okoboji is located in Dickinson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Okoboji
- Population from the 2020 Census: 303 people
- Okoboji
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Orleans
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Orleans is located in Dickinson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orleans
- Population from the 2020 Census: 591 people
- Spirit Lake
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Wahpeton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Wahpeton is located in Dickinson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wahpeton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 353 people
- Emmet County
- The following are listed by their distance from Emmetsburg, with the one closest to Emmetsburg listed first.
- Hoprig
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Hoprig is located in Emmet County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoprig
- Wallingford
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Wallingford is located in Emmet County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wallingford
- Population from the 2020 Census: 168 people
- Ringsted
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Gruver
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Gruver is located in Emmet County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gruver
- Population from the 2020 Census: 82 people
- Estherville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Armstrong
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Armstrong is located in Emmet County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armstrong
- Population from the 2020 Census: 841 people
- Dolliver
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Humboldt County
- The following are listed by their distance from Emmetsburg, with the one closest to Emmetsburg listed first.
- Ottosen
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Ottosen is located in Humboldt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ottosen
- Population from the 2020 Census: 36 people
- Bradgate
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Bradgate is located in Humboldt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradgate
- Population from the 2020 Census: 84 people
- Bode
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Bode is located in Humboldt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bode
- Population from the 2020 Census: 286 people
- Gilmore City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Livermore
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Livermore is located in Humboldt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Livermore
- Population from the 2020 Census: 361 people
- Kossuth County
- The following are listed by their distance from Emmetsburg, with the one closest to Emmetsburg listed first.
- Whittemore
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Whittemore is located in Kossuth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whittemore
- Population from the 2020 Census: 469 people
- Fenton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Fenton is located in Kossuth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fenton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 225 people
- Lone Rock
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Seneca
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Seneca is located in Kossuth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seneca
- Algona
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Burt
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Burt is located in Kossuth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burt
- Population from the 2020 Census: 493 people
- Irvington
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Irvington is located in Kossuth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irvington
- Bancroft
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Bancroft is located in Kossuth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bancroft
- Population from the 2020 Census: 684 people
- Swea City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Sexton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Sexton is located in Kossuth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sexton
- Pocahontas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Emmetsburg, with the one closest to Emmetsburg listed first.
- Plover
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Plover is located in Pocahontas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plover
- Population from the 2020 Census: 69 people
- Havelock
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Laurens
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Rolfe
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Pocahontas
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Martin County (MN)
- Ceylon
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Emmetsburg, see our County-by-County Page for Emmetsburg.
Cemeteries Near Emmetsburg ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Emmetsburg.
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 Emmetsburg - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Emmetsburg covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Emmetsburg, with the one closest to Emmetsburg listed first.
- Evergreen Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- St. Johns Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Vernon Twp. Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- St. Pauls Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Valley View Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- St. Johns Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Lutheran Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Lost Island Lutheran Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Highland Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Calvary Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Silver Lake Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Riverside Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (112 more) ...
- City Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- St. Jacobs Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- St. Lukes Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 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.<2>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Emmetsburg had a population of 1,584 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Emmetsburg had a population of 3,667 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Emmetsburg, with the one closest to Emmetsburg listed first.
- Osgood
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Osgood is located in Palo Alto County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osgood
- Cylinder
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Cylinder is located in Palo Alto County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cylinder
- Population from the 2020 Census: 84 people
- Ayrshire
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Curlew
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Curlew is located in Palo Alto County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curlew
- Population from the 2020 Census: 55 people
- Graettinger
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Rodman
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Rodman is located in Palo Alto County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rodman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 41 people
- Hoprig
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Hoprig is located in Emmet County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoprig
- Mallard
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Whittemore
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Whittemore is located in Kossuth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whittemore
- Population from the 2020 Census: 469 people
- Fenton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Fenton is located in Kossuth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fenton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 225 people
- Wallingford
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Wallingford is located in Emmet County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wallingford
- Population from the 2020 Census: 168 people
- West Bend
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Ringsted
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Plover
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Plover is located in Pocahontas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plover
- Population from the 2020 Census: 69 people
- Dickens
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Dickens is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dickens
- Population from the 2020 Census: 168 people
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Emmetsburg. See our List of 1890's Communities around Emmetsburg.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Emmetsburg ...
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 107 newspapers that have been published in the area around Emmetsburg.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Emmetsburg. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Emmetsburg and those printed in the larger area surrounding Emmetsburg.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3> of Emmetsburg.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These professional and volunteer 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 Emmetsburg:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Palo Alto County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Buena Vista County
- Clay County
- Dickinson County
- Emmet County
- Humboldt County
- Kossuth County
- Pocahontas 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> | 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 Emmetsburg, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Emmetsburg) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |