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 Rake (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 Rake. 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 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.
Rake 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 Rake. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Rake:
- Winnebago County (The home county of Rake)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rake, with the one closest to Rake listed first.
- Buffalo Center
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Thompson
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Vinje
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Vinje is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vinje
- Scarville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Leland
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Leland is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 268 people
- Lake Mills
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Forest City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Emmet County
- Armstrong
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Armstrong is located in Emmet County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armstrong
- Population from the 2020 Census: 841 people
- Hancock County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rake, with the one closest to Rake listed first.
- Woden
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Crystal Lake
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Crystal Lake is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crystal Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 228 people
- Hutchins
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Hutchins is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hutchins
- Britt
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Duncan
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Duncan is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duncan
- Garner
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Kossuth County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rake, with the one closest to Rake listed first.
- Lakota
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Lakota is located in Kossuth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakota
- Population from the 2020 Census: 275 people
- Ledyard
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Gerled
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Gerled is located in Kossuth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gerled
- German Valley
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- German Valley is located in Kossuth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for German Valley
- Titonka
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Titonka is located in Kossuth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Titonka
- Population from the 2020 Census: 433 people
- Bancroft
(19 miles [30.6 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
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Burt
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Burt is located in Kossuth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burt
- Population from the 2020 Census: 493 people
- Seneca
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Seneca is located in Kossuth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seneca
- Wesley
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Wesley is located in Kossuth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wesley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 364 people
- Lone Rock
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Sexton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Sexton is located in Kossuth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sexton
- Worth County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rake, with the one closest to Rake 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
- Silver Lake
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Silver Lake is located in Worth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Lake
- Fertile
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Hanlontown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Hanlontown is located in Worth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanlontown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
- Blue Earth County (MN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rake, with the one closest to Rake listed first.
- Mapleton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Amboy
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Amboy is located in Blue Earth County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amboy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 505 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Amboy <1>
- Faribault County (MN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rake, with the one closest to Rake listed first.
- Frost
(7 miles [11.3 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
(7 miles [11.3 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
- Elmore
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Elmore is located in Faribault County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmore
- Population from the 2020 Census: 613 people
- Dell
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Dell is located in Faribault County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dell
- Kiester
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Blue Earth
(14 miles [22.5 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
(15 miles [24.1 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
- Easton
(19 miles [30.6 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
- Delavan
(20 miles [32.2 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
- Wells
(20 miles [32.2 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
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Huntley is located in Faribault County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntley
- Winnebago
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Freeborn County (MN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rake, with the one closest to Rake listed first.
- Emmons
(21 miles [33.8 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
- Alden
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Conger
(21 miles [33.8 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
- Twin Lakes
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Twin Lakes is located in Freeborn County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin Lakes
- Population from the 2020 Census: 149 people
- Freeborn
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Manchester
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Manchester is located in Freeborn County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manchester
- Population from the 2020 Census: 55 people
- Albert Lea
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Martin County (MN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rake, with the one closest to Rake listed first.
- Granada
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Fairmont
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Rake, see our County-by-County Page for Rake.
Cemeteries Near Rake ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Rake.
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 Rake - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Rake covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Rake, with the one closest to Rake listed first.
- West Lutheran Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Lincoln Twp. Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- East Lutheran Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- St. Matthews Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Bethany Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Graceland Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Olena Mound Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- South Blue Earth Lutheran Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Bricelyn Lutheran Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Hesse Burying Grounds
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- St. Johns Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Van Buren Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (191 more) ...
- Eden Twp. Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Emerald Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Clayton Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 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, Rake had a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, Rake had a population of 206 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Rake, with the one closest to Rake listed first.
- Buffalo Center
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Amund
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Amund is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amund
- Elmore
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Elmore is located in Faribault County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmore
- Population from the 2020 Census: 613 people
- Dell
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Dell is located in Faribault County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dell
- Thompson
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Kiester
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Ledyard
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Blue Earth
(14 miles [22.5 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>
- German Valley
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- German Valley is located in Kossuth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for German Valley
- Pilot Grove
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Pilot Grove is located in Faribault County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pilot Grove
- Mansfield
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Mansfield is located in Freeborn County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mansfield
- Leland
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Leland is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 268 people
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Crystal Lake
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Crystal Lake is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crystal Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 228 people
- Bancroft
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Bancroft is located in Kossuth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bancroft
- Population from the 2020 Census: 684 people
- Lake Mills
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Rake. See our List of 1890's Communities around Rake.
Newspapers Published in Rake ...
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 131 newspapers that have been published in the area around Rake.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Rake, 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 Rake.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Rake:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Winnebago County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Emmet County
- Hancock County
- Kossuth County
- Worth County
- Blue Earth 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 Rake, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Rake) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |