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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 Armstrong (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 Armstrong. 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.

Armstrong is located in Hennepin County.

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

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Hennepin County: Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne & Wright.

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

  • Hennepin County     (The home county of Armstrong)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Armstrong, with the one closest to Armstrong listed first.
    • Maple Plain
      (Less than 2 miles to the east)
    • Independence
      (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
      • Independence is located in Hennepin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Independence
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,786 people
    • Loretto
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Medina
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Mound
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Mound is located in Hennepin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mound
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 9,404 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mound <1>
    • Orono
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
      • Orono is located in Hennepin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orono
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 8,348 people
    • Spring Park
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Long Lake
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Greenfield
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Greenfield is located in Hennepin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenfield
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,058 people
    • Minnetrista
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Crystal Bay
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Crystal Bay is located in Hennepin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crystal Bay
    • Minnetonka Beach
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Minnetonka Beach is located in Hennepin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minnetonka Beach
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 584 people
  • Anoka County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Armstrong, with the one closest to Armstrong listed first.
    • Anoka
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Ramsey
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Columbia Heights
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Fridley
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Hilltop
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Hilltop is located in Anoka County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilltop
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 764 people
    • Coon Creek
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Coon Creek is located in Anoka County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coon Creek
    • Coon Rapids
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Spring Lake Park
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Andover
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Blaine
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Nowthen
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Nowthen is located in Anoka County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nowthen
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,732 people
    • Lexington
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
  • Carver County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Armstrong, with the one closest to Armstrong listed first.
    • Watertown
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Victoria
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Hazeltine
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Hazeltine is located in Carver County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazeltine
    • Chanhassen
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Waconia
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Mayer
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Hazelton
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Hazelton is located in Carver County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazelton
    • Hollywood
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Hollywood is located in Carver County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollywood
    • Hydes Lake
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Hydes Lake is located in Carver County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hydes Lake
    • Chaska
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Dahlgren
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Dahlgren is located in Carver County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dahlgren
    • New Germany
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Dakota County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Armstrong, with the one closest to Armstrong listed first.
    • Mendota
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Burnsville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Nicols
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Nicols is located in Dakota County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nicols
    • Lilydale
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Lilydale is located in Dakota County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lilydale
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 838 people
    • Mendota Heights
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Eagan
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Eagan is located in Dakota County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagan
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 65,975 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Eagan <1>
    • West Saint Paul
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Sunfish Lake
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
    • Apple Valley
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • McLeod County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Armstrong, with the one closest to Armstrong listed first.
    • Winsted
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Lester Prairie
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Plato
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Silver Lake
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Glencoe
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Ramsey County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Armstrong, with the one closest to Armstrong listed first.
    • Lauderdale
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Lauderdale is located in Ramsey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lauderdale
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,484 people
    • New Brighton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Falcon Heights
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Mounds View
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Arden Hills
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Roseville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Shoreview
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Cardigan Junction
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Cardigan Junction is located in Ramsey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cardigan Junction
    • Little Canada
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • North Oaks
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Saint Paul
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Vadnais Heights
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Scott County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Armstrong, with the one closest to Armstrong listed first.
    • Shakopee
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Marystown
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Marystown is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marystown
    • Jordan
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Savage
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Prior Lake
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Belle Plaine
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Credit River
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Credit River is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Credit River
    • Saint Patrick
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Saint Patrick is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Patrick
  • Sherburne County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Armstrong, with the one closest to Armstrong listed first.
    • Big Lake
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Elk River
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Salida
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Salida is located in Sherburne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salida
    • Becker
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Becker is located in Sherburne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Becker
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,033 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Becker <1>
    • Orrock
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Orrock is located in Sherburne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orrock
    • Zimmerman
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Zimmerman is located in Sherburne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zimmerman
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 6,135 people
      • Zimmerman has also been known as:
      • Lake Fremont
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Zimmerman <1>
  • Sibley County
    • Green Isle
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Wright County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Armstrong, with the one closest to Armstrong listed first.
    • Rockford
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Delano
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Hanover
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Montrose
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Saint Michael
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Buffalo
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Waverly
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Albertville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Otsego
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Rassat
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Rassat is located in Wright County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rassat
    • Howard Lake
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Monticello
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)

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

Cemeteries Near Armstrong ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Armstrong.

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

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

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

  • Lewis Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Anna Mason Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Christ Lutheran Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Oakland Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Minnestrista Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • St.s Peter & Paul Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Union Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Mt. Olive East Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • St. Josephs Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Calvary Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • St. Peters Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Delano Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (301 more) ...

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>

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

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

  • Maple Plain
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Spring Park
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Rockford
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Delano
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Minnetrista
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Long Lake
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Saint Bonifacius
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Minnetonka Beach
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Minnetonka Beach is located in Hennepin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minnetonka Beach
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 584 people
  • Watertown
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Wayzata
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Ditter
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Ditter is located in Hennepin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ditter
  • Hamel
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Corcoran
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Burschville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Burschville is located in Hennepin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burschville
    • Excelsior
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)

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

Newspapers Published in Armstrong ...

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 387 newspapers that have been published in the area around Armstrong.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Armstrong, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Armstrong.

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 either 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 Armstrong:

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