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 City of Columbus (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 City of Columbus. 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 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.
City of Columbus is located in Anoka 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 Anoka County: Chisago, Hennepin, Isanti, Ramsey, Sherburne & Washington.
Below are the counties that are near City of Columbus. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to City of Columbus:
- Anoka County (The home county of City of Columbus)
- The following are listed by their distance from City of Columbus, with the one closest to City of Columbus listed first.
- Linwood
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Linwood is also located in Anoka County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linwood
- Lino Lakes
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Ham Lake
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Centerville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- East Bethel
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Circle Pines
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Blaine
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Lexington
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Cedar
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Coopers Corner
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Coopers Corner is also located in Anoka County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coopers Corner
- Andover
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Bethel
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Chisago County
- The following are listed by their distance from City of Columbus, with the one closest to City of Columbus listed first.
- Wyoming
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Stacy
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Chisago City
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Lindstrom
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Center City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Branch
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Branch is located in Chisago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Branch
- North Branch
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Shafer
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Franconia
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Franconia is located in Chisago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franconia
- Almelund
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Taylors Falls
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Harris
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Dakota County
- The following are listed by their distance from City of Columbus, with the one closest to City of Columbus listed first.
- Lilydale
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Lilydale is located in Dakota County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lilydale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 838 people
- West Saint Paul
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Mendota Heights
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Mendota
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- South Saint Paul
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Sunfish Lake
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Eagan
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Inver Grove Heights
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Hennepin County
- The following are listed by their distance from City of Columbus, with the one closest to City of Columbus listed first.
- Champlin
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Brooklyn Park
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Saint Anthony
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Brooklyn Center
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Brooklyn Center is located in Hennepin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brooklyn Center
- Population from the 2020 Census: 30,253 people
- Former name for Brooklyn Center:
- Brooklyn Centre
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Brooklyn Center <1>
- Osseo
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Dayton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Crystal
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Robbinsdale
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Maple Grove
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- New Hope
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Minneapolis
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Golden Valley
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Isanti County
- The following are listed by their distance from City of Columbus, with the one closest to City of Columbus listed first.
- Weber
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Weber is located in Isanti County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weber
- Isanti
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Minnesota Boys Town
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Minnesota Boys Town is located in Isanti County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minnesota Boys Town
- Cambridge
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Bradford
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Bradford is located in Isanti County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradford
- Crown
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Crown is located in Isanti County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crown
- Grandy
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Stanchfield
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Elm Park
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Elm Park is located in Isanti County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elm Park
- Ramsey County
- The following are listed by their distance from City of Columbus, with the one closest to City of Columbus listed first.
- North Oaks
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- White Bear Beach
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- White Bear Beach is located in Ramsey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Bear Beach
- Mounds View
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Shoreview
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- White Bear Lake
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Arden Hills
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Cardigan Junction
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Cardigan Junction is located in Ramsey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cardigan Junction
- Gem Lake
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Gem Lake is located in Ramsey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gem Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 536 people
- Vadnais Heights
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- New Brighton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Little Canada
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Maplewood
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Sherburne County
- The following are listed by their distance from City of Columbus, with the one closest to City of Columbus listed first.
- Elk River
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Zimmerman
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- 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>
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from City of Columbus, with the one closest to City of Columbus listed first.
- Forest Lake
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Hugo
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Hugo is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hugo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 15,452 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hugo <1>
- Dellwood
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Dellwood is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dellwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,120 people
- Scandia
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Withrow
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Withrow is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Withrow
- Marine-on-Saint-Croix
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Otisville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Otisville is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otisville
- Birchwood Village
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Birchwood Village is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birchwood Village
- Population from the 2020 Census: 880 people
- Duluth Junction
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Duluth Junction is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duluth Junction
- Grant
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Grant is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grant
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,107 people
- Mahtomedi
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Willernie
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Wright County
- The following are listed by their distance from City of Columbus, with the one closest to City of Columbus listed first.
- Otsego
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Albertville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Hanover
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Saint Michael
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Polk County (WI)
- The following are listed by their distance from City of Columbus, with the one closest to City of Columbus listed first.
- Osceola
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Osceola is located in Polk County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osceola
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,580 people
- Dresser
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Dresser is located in Polk County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dresser
- Population from the 2020 Census: 864 people
- Saint Croix Falls
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Saint Croix Falls is located in Polk County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Croix Falls
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,059 people
- Horse Creek
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Horse Creek is located in Polk County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horse Creek
- Centuria
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Centuria is located in Polk County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centuria
- Population from the 2020 Census: 905 people
- Saint Croix County (WI)
- The following are listed by their distance from City of Columbus, with the one closest to City of Columbus listed first.
- Somerset
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Somerset is located in Saint Croix County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Somerset
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,992 people
- North Hudson
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- North Hudson is located in Saint Croix County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Hudson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,833 people
- Burkhardt
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Burkhardt is located in Saint Croix County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burkhardt
- Hudson
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Hudson is located in Saint Croix County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hudson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 14,168 people
- Star Prairie
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Star Prairie is located in Saint Croix County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Star Prairie
- Population from the 2020 Census: 549 people
- New Richmond
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- New Richmond is located in Saint Croix County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Richmond
- Population from the 2020 Census: 9,730 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to City of Columbus, see our County-by-County Page for City of Columbus.
Cemeteries Near City of Columbus ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of City of Columbus.
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 City of Columbus - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for City of Columbus covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from City of Columbus, with the one closest to City of Columbus listed first.
- Oak Park Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Calvary Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Victor Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Scandinavian Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Oak Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Twitchel Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Cedar Hill Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- St. Pauls Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Wyoming Methodist Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- East Bethel Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Our Saviour's Lutheran Church Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Continue List (262 more) ...
- St. Joseph Catholic Church Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- St. Genevieve Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Soderville Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
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>
While we didn't find City of Columbus in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of City of Columbus.
These communities are listed based on their distance from City of Columbus, with the one closest to City of Columbus listed first.
- Linwood
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Linwood is also located in Anoka County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linwood
- Forest Lake
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Wyoming
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Centerville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Hugo
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Hugo is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hugo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 15,452 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hugo <1>
- Stacy
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Chisago City
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Mounds View
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- White Bear Beach
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- White Bear Beach is located in Ramsey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Bear Beach
- Dellwood
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Dellwood is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dellwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,120 people
- Maple Island
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Maple Island is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Island
- Bethel
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Coon Creek
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Coon Creek is also located in Anoka County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coon Creek
- White Bear Lake
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Withrow
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Withrow is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Withrow
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around City of Columbus. See our List of 1890's Communities around City of Columbus.
Newspapers Published in City of Columbus ...
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 357 newspapers that have been published in the area around City of Columbus.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of City of Columbus, there are papers which were published within 24 miles [38.6 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for City of Columbus.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with 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 City of Columbus:
- Websites specific to Minnesota
- Pages specific to Anoka County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Chisago County
- Dakota County
- Hennepin County
- Isanti County
- Ramsey County
- Sherburne County
- Washington County
- Wright County
- Polk County
- Saint Croix County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Minnesota
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 City of Columbus, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- City of Columbus) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |