RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Iowa >> Palo Alto County >> Graettinger >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 Graettinger (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 Graettinger. 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.

Graettinger is located in Palo Alto 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 Palo Alto County: Buena Vista, Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Humboldt, Kossuth & Pocahontas.

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

  • Palo Alto County     (The home county of Graettinger)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Graettinger, with the one closest to Graettinger listed first.
    • Emmetsburg
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Ruthven
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Ayrshire
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Cylinder
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Cylinder is located in Palo Alto County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cylinder
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 84 people
    • Curlew
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Rodman
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Mallard
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • West Bend
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
  • Buena Vista County
  • Clay County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Graettinger, with the one closest to Graettinger listed first.
    • Dickens
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Langdon
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Fostoria
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Spencer
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Gillett Grove
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Webb
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Greenville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Rossie
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Rossie is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rossie
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 67 people
    • Cornell
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Royal
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Everly
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Everly is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Everly
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 541 people
  • Dickinson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Graettinger, with the one closest to Graettinger listed first.
    • Terril
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Superior
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Arnolds Park
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Old Town
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Old Town is located in Dickinson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Town
    • Spirit Lake
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Milford
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Okoboji
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Orleans
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Orleans is located in Dickinson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orleans
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 591 people
    • West Okoboji
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • West Okoboji is located in Dickinson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Okoboji
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 303 people
    • Wahpeton
      (23 miles [37 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 Graettinger, with the one closest to Graettinger listed first.
    • Hoprig
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Wallingford
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Gruver
      (10 miles [16.1 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
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Ringsted
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Armstrong
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Dolliver
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Humboldt County
    • Ottosen
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Ottosen is located in Humboldt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ottosen
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 36 people
  • Kossuth County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Graettinger, with the one closest to Graettinger listed first.
    • Fenton
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Fenton is located in Kossuth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fenton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 225 people
    • Seneca
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Whittemore
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Whittemore is located in Kossuth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whittemore
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 469 people
    • Lone Rock
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Swea City
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Burt
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Burt is located in Kossuth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burt
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 493 people
    • Bancroft
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Algona
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Gerled
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Pocahontas County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Graettinger, with the one closest to Graettinger listed first.
    • Plover
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Laurens
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Havelock
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
  • Jackson County (MN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Graettinger, with the one closest to Graettinger listed first.
    • Petersburg
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Alpha
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Alpha is located in Jackson County (MN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alpha
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 119 people
    • Jackson
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Martin County (MN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Graettinger, with the one closest to Graettinger listed first.
    • Ceylon
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Ceylon is located in Martin County (MN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ceylon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 337 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ceylon <1>
    • Dunnell
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Dunnell is located in Martin County (MN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunnell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 145 people
    • Sherburn
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Welcome
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)

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

Cemeteries Near Graettinger ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Graettinger.

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 Graettinger - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Valley View Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • St. Jacobs Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • City Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • St. Pauls Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Lost Island Lutheran Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Wallingford Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • High Lake Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Vernon Twp. Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Highland Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Swan Lake Village Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • Calvary Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Crown Hill Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (121 more) ...
    • Evergreen Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • St. Johns Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • St. Patricks Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)

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 in 1895, Graettinger had a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Graettinger had a population of 776 people.

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

  • Osgood
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Osgood is located in Palo Alto County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osgood
  • Wallingford
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Hoprig
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Emmetsburg
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Estherville
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
  • Ringsted
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
  • Maple Hill
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Maple Hill is located in Emmet County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Hill
  • Ayrshire
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
  • Cylinder
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Cylinder is located in Palo Alto County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cylinder
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 84 people
  • Dickens
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Fenton
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Fenton is located in Kossuth County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fenton
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 225 people
  • Superior
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Graettinger ...

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 104 newspapers that have been published in the area around Graettinger.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

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

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we begin 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 Graettinger:

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 Graettinger, 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' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Graettinger) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.