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 Granite (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 Granite. 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 hospitals and doctors 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.
Granite is located in Lyon 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 Lyon County: Osceola, Sioux, Nobles (MN), Rock (MN), Lincoln (SD) & Minnehaha (SD).
Below are the counties that are near Granite. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Granite:
- Lyon County (The home county of Granite)
- The following are listed by their distance from Granite, with the one closest to Granite listed first.
- Klondike
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Klondike is located in Lyon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Klondike
- Larchwood
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Lester
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Lester is located in Lyon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lester
- Population from the 2020 Census: 303 people
- Beloit
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Beloit is located in Lyon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beloit
- Inwood
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Alvord
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Rock Rapids
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Doon
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Edna
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Edna is located in Lyon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edna
- George
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Sioux County
- The following are listed by their distance from Granite, with the one closest to Granite listed first.
- Rock Valley
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Perkins
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Perkins is located in Sioux County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perkins
- Lebanon
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Lebanon is located in Sioux County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lebanon
- Hull
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Nobles County (MN)
- Ellsworth
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Pipestone County (MN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Granite, with the one closest to Granite listed first.
- Jasper Sunrise Village
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Jasper Sunrise Village is located in Pipestone County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jasper Sunrise Village
- Jasper
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Jasper is located in Pipestone County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jasper
- Population from the 2020 Census: 603 people
- Rock County (MN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Granite, with the one closest to Granite listed first.
- Bruce
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Bruce is located in Rock County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bruce
- Hills
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Manley
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Manley is located in Rock County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manley
- Beaver Creek
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Beaver Creek is located in Rock County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver Creek
- Population from the 2020 Census: 283 people
- Steen
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Steen is located in Rock County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steen
- Population from the 2020 Census: 164 people
- Ash Creek
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Ash Creek is located in Rock County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ash Creek
- Luverne
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Kanaranzi
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Magnolia
(26 miles [41.8 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
- Hardwick
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Clay County (SD)
- Glenwood ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Glenwood is located in Clay County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenwood
- Estimated population in 2014: 103 people
- Lincoln County (SD)
- The following are listed by their distance from Granite, with the one closest to Granite listed first.
- Shindler
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Shindler is located in Lincoln County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shindler
- Population from the 2010 Census: 584 people
- Harrisburg
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Canton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Worthing
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Tea
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- 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>
- Fairview
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Lennox
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Moe
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Moe is located in Lincoln County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moe
- Hudson
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Minnehaha County (SD)
- The following are listed by their distance from Granite, with the one closest to Granite listed first.
- Rowena
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Pine Lakes Addition
(6 miles [9.7 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
- Split Rock Heights
(6 miles [9.7 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
- Brandon
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Valley Springs
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Norton Acres
(10 miles [16.1 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
- Sioux Falls
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Meadow View Addition
(12 miles [19.3 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
- Hayward Addition
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Hayward Addition is located in Minnehaha County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hayward Addition
- Estimated population in 2014: 380 people
- Webster Grove Addition
(13 miles [20.9 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
- Silver Valley Addition
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Silver Valley Addition is located in Minnehaha County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Valley Addition
- Estimated population in 2014: 112 people
- Renner Corner
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Renner Corner is located in Minnehaha County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Renner Corner
- Population from the 2010 Census: 305 people
- Renner
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Moody County (SD)
- Trent
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Turner County (SD)
- The following are listed by their distance from Granite, with the one closest to Granite listed first.
- Chancellor
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Davis
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Hooker
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Hooker is located in Turner County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hooker
- Hurley
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Parker
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Union County (SD)
- The following are listed by their distance from Granite, with the one closest to Granite listed first.
- Beresford
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- 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>
- Alcester
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Granite, see our County-by-County Page for Granite.
Cemeteries Near Granite ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Granite.
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 Granite - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Granite covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Granite, with the one closest to Granite listed first.
- Grandview Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Larchwood Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- South Beaver Valley Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Pleasant View Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Brandon Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Our Saviors Lutheran Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Bethlehem Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Nerison Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Pleasant View Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Bear Valley Lutheran Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Hills of Rest Memorial Park
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (124 more) ...
- Woodlawn Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Canton Lutheran Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- 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>
- Dutch Reform Church Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 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.<3>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Granite had a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Granite, with the one closest to Granite listed first.
- Rowena
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Benclare
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Benclare is located in Minnehaha County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benclare
- East Sioux Falls
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- East Sioux Falls is located in Minnehaha County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Sioux Falls
- Shindler
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Shindler is located in Lincoln County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shindler
- Population from the 2010 Census: 584 people
- Larchwood
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Harrisburg
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Bruce
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Bruce is located in Rock County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bruce
- Brandon
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Valley Springs
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Hills
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Manley
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Manley is located in Rock County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manley
- Corson
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Corson is located in Minnehaha County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corson
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Sioux Falls
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Canton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Lester
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Lester is located in Lyon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lester
- Population from the 2020 Census: 303 people
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Granite. See our List of 1890's Communities around Granite.
Newspapers Published in Granite ...
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 154 newspapers that have been published in the area around Granite.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Granite, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Granite.
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 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 Granite:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Lyon County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Sioux County
- Nobles County
- Pipestone County
- Rock County
- Clay County
- Lincoln County
- Minnehaha County
- Moody 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> | 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 Granite, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | 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- Granite) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |