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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 Darwin (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 Darwin. 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 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.

Darwin is located in Meeker 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 Meeker County: Kandiyohi, McLeod, Renville, Stearns & Wright.

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

  • Meeker County     (The home county of Darwin)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Darwin, with the one closest to Darwin listed first.
    • Dassel
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Litchfield
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Forest City
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Forest City is located in Meeker County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest City
    • Kingston
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Kingston is located in Meeker County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingston
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 162 people
    • Cedar Mills
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Cedar Mills is located in Meeker County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Mills
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 51 people
    • Grove City
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Watkins
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Manannah
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Manannah is located in Meeker County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manannah
    • Rosendale
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Rosendale is located in Meeker County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosendale
    • Eden Valley
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Cosmos
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
  • Carver County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Darwin, with the one closest to Darwin listed first.
    • Hazelton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Hazelton is located in Carver County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazelton
    • Hollywood
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Hollywood is located in Carver County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollywood
    • New Germany
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Watertown
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Mayer
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Kandiyohi County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Darwin, with the one closest to Darwin listed first.
    • Atwater
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Lake Lillian
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Kandiyohi
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Kandiyohi is located in Kandiyohi County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kandiyohi
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 477 people
    • Hawick
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Hawick is located in Kandiyohi County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawick
    • Spicer
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Spicer is located in Kandiyohi County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spicer
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,224 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Spicer <1>
    • New London
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Regal
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Regal is located in Kandiyohi County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Regal
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 35 people
    • Svea
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Svea is located in Kandiyohi County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Svea
  • McLeod County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Darwin, with the one closest to Darwin listed first.
    • Hutchinson
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Silver Lake
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Biscay
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Biscay is located in McLeod County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Biscay
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 109 people
    • Winsted
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Lester Prairie
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Brownton
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Sumter
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Sumter is located in McLeod County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumter
    • Glencoe
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Stewart
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Stewart is located in McLeod County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stewart
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 533 people
    • Plato
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Fernando
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Fernando is located in McLeod County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fernando
  • Renville County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Darwin, with the one closest to Darwin listed first.
    • Buffalo Lake
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Hector
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Sibley County
    • New Auburn
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Stearns County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Darwin, with the one closest to Darwin listed first.
    • Kimball Prairie
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Kimball Prairie is located in Stearns County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimball Prairie
    • Kimball
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Fairhaven
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Fairhaven is located in Stearns County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairhaven
    • Paynesville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Cold Spring
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Richmond
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Rockville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Roscoe
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Saint Augusta
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Saint Augusta is located in Stearns County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Augusta
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,900 people
    • Pleasant Lake
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Pleasant Lake is located in Stearns County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Lake
    • Saint Martin
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Wright County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Darwin, with the one closest to Darwin listed first.
    • Cokato
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Albright
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Albright is located in Wright County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albright
    • Smith Lake
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Smith Lake is located in Wright County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smith Lake
    • Howard Lake
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • South Haven
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Albion Center
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Albion Center is located in Wright County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albion Center
    • Annandale
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Rassat
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Rassat is located in Wright County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rassat
    • Waverly
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Maple Lake
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Montrose
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Silver Creek
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Silver Creek is located in Wright County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Creek
    • Buffalo
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)

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

Cemeteries Near Darwin ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Darwin.

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

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

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

  • St. Johns Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Ellsworth Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Dassel Community Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dassel Community Cemetery
    • The Dassel Community Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Dassel Cemetery
  • Swan Lake Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Steelsville Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Little Swan Lake Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Calvary Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Ripley Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Lake Jennie Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Lake Arvilla Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • South Kingston Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • St. Gertrude Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (226 more) ...
    • Pioneer County Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Riverside Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • West Kingston Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)

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 in 1895, Darwin had a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Darwin had a population of 355 people.

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

  • Dassel
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Litchfield
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Greenleaf
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Greenleaf is located in Meeker County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenleaf
  • Forest City
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Forest City is located in Meeker County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest City
  • Kingston
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Kingston is located in Meeker County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingston
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 162 people
  • Cokato
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
  • Cedar Mills
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Cedar Mills is located in Meeker County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Mills
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 51 people
  • Hutchinson
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
  • Smith Lake
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Smith Lake is located in Wright County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smith Lake
  • Grove City
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
  • Rosendale
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Rosendale is located in Meeker County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosendale
  • Watkins
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Kimball Prairie
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Kimball Prairie is located in Stearns County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimball Prairie
    • Manannah
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Manannah is located in Meeker County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manannah
    • Silver Lake
      (16 miles [25.7 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 Darwin. See our List of 1890's Communities around Darwin.

Newspapers Published in Darwin ...

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 100 newspapers that have been published in the area around Darwin.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Darwin, 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 Darwin.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Darwin:

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 Darwin, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a '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- Darwin) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.