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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 Sanborn (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 Sanborn. 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 doctors and 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.

Sanborn is located in O'Brien 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 O'Brien County: Buena Vista, Cherokee, Clay, Dickinson, Lyon, Osceola, Plymouth & Sioux.

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

  • O'Brien County     (The home county of Sanborn)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sanborn, with the one closest to Sanborn listed first.
    • Primghar
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Archer
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Hartley
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Sheldon
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Moneta
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Moneta is located in O'Brien County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moneta
    • Paullina
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Paullina is located in O'Brien County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paullina
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 965 people
    • Sutherland
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Calumet
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Calumet is located in O'Brien County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calumet
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 155 people
    • Germantown
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
  • Buena Vista County
  • Cherokee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sanborn, with the one closest to Sanborn listed first.
    • Larrabee
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Cleghorn
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Cleghorn is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cleghorn
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 214 people
    • Marcus
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Meriden
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Cherokee
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
    • Mary Hill
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Clay County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sanborn, with the one closest to Sanborn listed first.
    • Everly
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Everly is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Everly
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 541 people
    • Royal
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Peterson
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Fostoria
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Spencer
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Rossie
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Rossie is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rossie
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 67 people
    • Langdon
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Greenville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Cornell
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Dickinson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sanborn, with the one closest to Sanborn listed first.
    • Lake Park
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Milford
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Old Town
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Old Town is located in Dickinson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Town
    • Wahpeton
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Wahpeton is located in Dickinson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wahpeton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 353 people
    • West Okoboji
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • West Okoboji is located in Dickinson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Okoboji
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 303 people
    • Arnolds Park
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Okoboji
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Lyon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sanborn, with the one closest to Sanborn listed first.
    • George
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Little Rock
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Edna
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Doon
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Rock Rapids
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Osceola County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sanborn, with the one closest to Sanborn listed first.
    • Melvin
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Melvin is located in Osceola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melvin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 197 people
    • Cloverdale
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Ashton
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • May City
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Sibley
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Allendorf
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Ocheyedan
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Harris
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Plymouth County
  • Sioux County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sanborn, with the one closest to Sanborn listed first.
    • Hospers
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Matlock
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Granville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Granville is located in Sioux County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 303 people
    • Boyden
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Middleburg
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Alton
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Orange City
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Hull
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Hull is located in Sioux County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hull
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,296 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hull <1>
    • Perkins
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Sioux Center
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Westbrook Village
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Westbrook Village is located in Sioux County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westbrook Village
    • Maurice
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Maurice is located in Sioux County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maurice
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 270 people
  • Jackson County (MN)
  • Nobles County (MN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sanborn, with the one closest to Sanborn listed first.
    • Bigelow
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Bigelow is located in Nobles County (MN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bigelow
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 226 people
    • Ransom
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Round Lake
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Org
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Ellsworth
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Rushmore
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Rushmore is located in Nobles County (MN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rushmore
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 334 people
    • Worthington
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)

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

Cemeteries Near Sanborn ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Sanborn.

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

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

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

  • St. Cecilla Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Roseland Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Pleasant Hill Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • St. Anthonys Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Center Twp. Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Steuck Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Randolph Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • St. Patricks Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Pleasant View Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
  • East Lawn Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
  • St. Paul Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
  • Doyle Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (119 more) ...
    • Goewey Twp. Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Baker Twp. Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Grant Cemetery
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)

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 Sanborn had a population of 1,075 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Sanborn had a population of 1,390 people.

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

  • Archer
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Primghar
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Hartley
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
  • Ritter
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Ritter is located in O'Brien County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ritter
  • Sheldon
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
  • Gaza
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Gaza is located in O'Brien County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gaza
  • Ashton
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
  • May City
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Hospers
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Paullina
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Paullina is located in O'Brien County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paullina
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 965 people
  • Matlock
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
  • Sibley
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Sutherland
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Everly
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Everly is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Everly
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 541 people
    • Granville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Granville is located in Sioux County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granville
      • 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 Sanborn. See our List of 1890's Communities around Sanborn.

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Sanborn ...

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 160 newspapers that have been published in the area around Sanborn.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

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

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 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 Sanborn:

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 Sanborn, 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- Sanborn) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.