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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 Ramsdell (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 Ramsdell. 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 southeast 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 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 east 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.

Ramsdell is located in Benewah County.

To see how the shape of Idaho's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Benewah County: Kootenai, Latah, Shoshone, Spokane (WA) & Whitman (WA).

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

  • Benewah County     (The home county of Ramsdell)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ramsdell, with the one closest to Ramsdell listed first.
    • Parkline
      (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
      • Parkline is located in Benewah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkline
    • Chatcolet
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • Chatcolet is located in Benewah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chatcolet
    • Saint Maries
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Plummer
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Plummer is located in Benewah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plummer
    • Saint Joe
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Saint Joe is located in Benewah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Joe
    • Emida
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Emida is located in Benewah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emida
    • Santa
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Tensed
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • De Smet
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • De Smet is located in Benewah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Smet
    • Willard
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Willard is located in Benewah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willard
    • Fernwood
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Kootenai County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ramsdell, with the one closest to Ramsdell listed first.
    • Conkling Park
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
      • Conkling Park is located in Kootenai County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conkling Park
    • Harrison
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Medimont
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Worley
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Lane
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Lane is located in Kootenai County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lane
    • Rose Lake
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Rose Lake is located in Kootenai County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rose Lake
    • Bellgrove
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Bellgrove is located in Kootenai County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellgrove
    • Canyon
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Canyon is located in Kootenai County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canyon
    • Cataldo
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Fernan Lake Village
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Fernan Lake Village is located in Kootenai County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fernan Lake Village
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 174 people
    • Coeur d'Alene
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Huetter
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Huetter is located in Kootenai County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huetter
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 114 people
  • Latah County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ramsdell, with the one closest to Ramsdell listed first.
    • Cora
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Cora is located in Latah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cora
    • Freeze
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Freeze is located in Latah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeze
    • Harvard
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
    • Onaway
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Onaway is located in Latah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Onaway
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 198 people
  • Shoshone County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ramsdell, with the one closest to Ramsdell listed first.
    • Calder
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Kingston
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Pinehurst
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Emerald Creek
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Emerald Creek is located in Shoshone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emerald Creek
    • Smelterville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Kellogg
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Sweeney
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Sweeney is located in Shoshone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sweeney
    • Wardner
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Clarkia
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Spokane County (WA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ramsdell, with the one closest to Ramsdell listed first.
    • Latah
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Latah is located in Spokane County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Latah
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 187 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Latah <1>
    • Rockford
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Fairfield
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Waverly
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Waverly is located in Spokane County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waverly
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 110 people
    • Mica
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Mica is located in Spokane County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mica
    • Spring Valley
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Spring Valley is located in Spokane County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Valley
    • Liberty Lake
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Valleyford
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Otis Orchards - East Farms
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Whitman County (WA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ramsdell, with the one closest to Ramsdell listed first.
    • Willard
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Willard is located in Whitman County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willard
    • Tekoa
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Tekoa is located in Whitman County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tekoa
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 773 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Tekoa <1>
    • Seltice
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Seltice is located in Whitman County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seltice
    • Lone Pine
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Lone Pine is located in Whitman County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lone Pine
    • Farmington
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Belmont
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Oakesdale
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Oakesdale is located in Whitman County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakesdale
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 425 people

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

Cemeteries Near Ramsdell ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Ramsdell.

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

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

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

  • Woodlawn Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Harrison Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Medimont Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • Evergreen Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evergreen Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Evergreen Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located less than 2 miles<3> to the west of Plummer.
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1991685 <2>
  • Coeur d'Alene Indian Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
  • St. Michaels Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
  • Lane Cemetery
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Worley Cemetery
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
  • Mountain View Cemetery
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
  • Sanders Cemetery
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
  • Rose Lake Cemetery
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Old Mission Cemetery
    (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (29 more) ...
    • Latah Cemetery
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Goldenrod Cemetery
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Mica Peak Cemetery
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)

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.<4>

While we didn't find Ramsdell in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Ramsdell.

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

  • Chatcolet
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Chatcolet is located in Benewah County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chatcolet
  • Saint Maries
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Lacon
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Lacon is located in Kootenai County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacon
  • Harrison
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Lane
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Lane is located in Kootenai County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lane
  • Santa
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Tekoa
    (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Tekoa is located in Whitman County (WA)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tekoa
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 773 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Tekoa <1>
  • Cataldo
    (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Latah
    (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Latah is located in Spokane County (WA)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Latah
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 187 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Latah <1>
  • Rockford
    (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
  • Lone Pine
    (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Lone Pine is located in Whitman County (WA)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lone Pine
  • Seltice
    (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Seltice is located in Whitman County (WA)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seltice
  • Continue List   (12 more) ...
    • Kingston
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Fairfield
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Coeur d'Alene
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)

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

Newspapers Published in Ramsdell ...

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 62 newspapers that have been published in the area around Ramsdell.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Ramsdell, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Ramsdell.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we start with 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 Ramsdell:

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>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 drawn from Point A (ie- Ramsdell) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<4>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 Ramsdell, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.