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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 East Grand Forks (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 East Grand Forks. 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.

Name Variations for East Grand Forks ...

When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.

Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might have occurred.

For example, a typical abbreviation for East Grand Forks: E. Grand Frks.

If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.

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.

East Grand Forks is located in Polk County.

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

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Polk County: Clearwater, Mahnomen, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Red Lake, Grand Forks (ND) & Traill (ND).

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

  • Polk County     (The home county of East Grand Forks)
    • The following are listed by their distance from East Grand Forks, with the one closest to East Grand Forks listed first.
    • Mallory
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Mallory have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mallory
      • Mallory is located in Polk County
    • Fisher
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Fisher have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fisher
      • Fisher is located in Polk County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 410 people
    • Euclid
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Euclid
      • Euclid is located in Polk County
    • Crookston
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Climax
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Climax have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Climax
      • Climax is located in Polk County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 261 people
    • Gentilly
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gentilly
      • Gentilly is located in Polk County
    • Nielsville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Nielsville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nielsville
      • Nielsville is located in Polk County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 82 people
  • Marshall County
    • The following are listed by their distance from East Grand Forks, with the one closest to East Grand Forks listed first.
    • Alvarado
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Alvarado have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alvarado
      • Alvarado is located in Marshall County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 362 people
    • Oslo
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Oslo have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oslo
      • Oslo is located in Marshall County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 323 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Oslo <2>
    • Warren
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Big Woods
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Woods
      • Big Woods is located in Marshall County
    • Argyle
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
  • Red Lake County
    • Dorothy
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Dorothy have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dorothy
      • Dorothy is located in Red Lake County
  • Grand Forks County (ND)
    • The following are listed by their distance from East Grand Forks, with the one closest to East Grand Forks listed first.
    • Grand Forks
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Thompson
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Thompson have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thompson
      • Thompson is located in Grand Forks County (ND)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,027 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Thompson <2>
    • Manvel
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Manvel have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manvel
      • Manvel is located in Grand Forks County (ND)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 372 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Manvel <2>
    • Emerado
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Emerado have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emerado
      • Emerado is located in Grand Forks County (ND)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 461 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Emerado <2>
    • Mekinock
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Reynolds
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Reynolds have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reynolds
      • Reynolds is located in Grand Forks County (ND)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 299 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Reynolds <2>
    • Holmes
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Holmes have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holmes
      • Holmes is located in Grand Forks County (ND)
    • Arvilla
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Gilby
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Gilby have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilby
      • Gilby is located in Grand Forks County (ND)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 230 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Gilby <2>
    • Johnstown
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnstown
      • Johnstown is located in Grand Forks County (ND)
    • Northwood
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Northwood have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northwood
      • Northwood is located in Grand Forks County (ND)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 884 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Northwood <2>
    • Kempton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kempton
      • Kempton is located in Grand Forks County (ND)
    • Larimore
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Larimore
      • Larimore is located in Grand Forks County (ND)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,269 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Larimore <2>
  • Traill County (ND)
    • The following are listed by their distance from East Grand Forks, with the one closest to East Grand Forks listed first.
    • Buxton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Buxton have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buxton
      • Buxton is located in Traill County (ND)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 316 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Buxton <2>
    • Hatton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hatton have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatton
      • Hatton is located in Traill County (ND)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 731 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hatton <2>
    • Cummings
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
  • Walsh County (ND)
    • The following are listed by their distance from East Grand Forks, with the one closest to East Grand Forks listed first.
    • Ardoch
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Ardoch have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ardoch
      • Ardoch is located in Walsh County (ND)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 80 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ardoch <2>
    • Warsaw
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warsaw
      • Warsaw is located in Walsh County (ND)
    • Forest River
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Forest River have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest River
      • Forest River is located in Walsh County (ND)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 118 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Forest River <2>
    • Minto
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Minto have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minto
      • Minto is located in Walsh County (ND)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 582 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Minto <2>

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of East Grand Forks ...

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 58 newspapers that have been published in the area around East Grand Forks.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of East Grand Forks. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of East Grand Forks and those printed in the larger area surrounding East Grand Forks.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<3> of East Grand Forks.

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 helpful 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 East Grand Forks:

Cemeteries Near East Grand Forks ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of East Grand Forks.

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.

If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).

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

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

  • Calvary Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Calvary Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Calvary Cemetery
  • Memorial Park
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Memorial Park have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Memorial Park
  • Sunset Memorial Gardens
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Sunset Memorial Gardens have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Sunset Memorial Gardens
  • Resthaven Memorial Gardens
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Resthaven Memorial Gardens have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Resthaven Memorial Gardens
  • Bethany Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Bethany Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Bethany Cemetery
  • South Bethany Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the South Bethany Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the South Bethany Cemetery
  • Nesbit Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Nesbit Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Nesbit Cemetery
  • Bygland Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Bygland Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Bygland Cemetery
  • East Walle Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the East Walle Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the East Walle Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery
  • Holy Trinity Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Holy Trinity Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Holy Trinity Cemetery
  • Walle Lutheran Church Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Walle Lutheran Church Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Walle Lutheran Church Cemetery
  • Pioneer Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Pioneer Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Pioneer Cemetery
  • Continue List   (89 more) ...
    • Thompson Cemetery
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Thompson Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Thompson Cemetery
    • Tabor Cemetery
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Tabor Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Tabor Cemetery
    • Kongsvinger Cemetery
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Kongsvinger Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Kongsvinger Cemetery

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>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that East Grand Forks had a population of 795 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, East Grand Forks had a population of 8,401 people.

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

  • Grand Forks
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Mallory
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Mallory have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mallory
    • Mallory is located in Polk County
  • Merrifield
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Merrifield have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merrifield
    • Merrifield is located in Grand Forks County (ND)
  • Thompson
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Thompson have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thompson
    • Thompson is located in Grand Forks County (ND)
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,027 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Thompson <2>
  • Kelly
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Kelly have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelly
    • Kelly is located in Grand Forks County (ND)
  • Ojata ‑ Historic
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Ojata have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ojata
    • Ojata is located in Grand Forks County (ND)
  • Tabor
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Tabor have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tabor
    • Tabor is located in Polk County
  • Manvel
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Manvel have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manvel
    • Manvel is located in Grand Forks County (ND)
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 372 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Manvel <2>
  • Fisher
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Fisher have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fisher
    • Fisher is located in Polk County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 410 people
  • Freeman
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Freeman have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeman
    • Freeman is located in Polk County
  • Hixon
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hixon have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hixon
    • Hixon is located in Polk County
  • Euclid
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Euclid
    • Euclid is located in Polk County
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Angus
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Angus have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Angus
      • Angus is located in Polk County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Angus <2>
    • Mekinock
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Reynolds
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Reynolds have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reynolds
      • Reynolds is located in Grand Forks County (ND)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 299 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Reynolds <2>

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

The official website for East Grand Forks: www.ci.east-grand-forks.mn.us/

The official website for Polk County: www.co.polk.mn.us/

The official website for State of Minnesota: https://mn.gov/

Footnotes ...

<1>The location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required.
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<3>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- East Grand Forks) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in East Grand Forks. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 47.9311, Longitude: -97.0162    
<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 East Grand Forks, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.




 

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This page was last modified/updated: 07 Apr 2024