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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 Union (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 Union. 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 Union ...

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 occur.

For example, a typical abbreviation for East Union: E. Union

You might be interested in other communities that are also named East Union. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for East Union.

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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and 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.

East Union is located in Carver 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 Carver County: Hennepin, McLeod, Scott, Sibley & Wright.

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

  • Carver County     (The home county of East Union)
    • The following are listed by their distance from East Union, with the one closest to East Union listed first.
    • Dahlgren
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Dahlgren is located in Carver County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dahlgren
    • Carver
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Gotha
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Gotha is located in Carver County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gotha
    • Chaska
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Cologne
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Hazeltine
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Hazeltine is located in Carver County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazeltine
    • Victoria
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Hydes Lake
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Hydes Lake is located in Carver County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hydes Lake
    • Waconia
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Assumption
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Assumption is located in Carver County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Assumption
    • Chanhassen
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Norwood
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
  • Dakota County
    • The following are listed by their distance from East Union, with the one closest to East Union listed first.
    • Burnsville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Lakeville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Apple Valley
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Nicols
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Nicols is located in Dakota County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nicols
    • Eureka Center
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Eureka Center is located in Dakota County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eureka Center
    • Eagan
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • 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>
    • Farmington
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Mendota
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Mendota Heights
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Castle Rock
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Castle Rock is located in Dakota County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Castle Rock
    • Lilydale
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Lilydale is located in Dakota County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lilydale
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 838 people
    • Rosemount
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Hennepin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from East Union, with the one closest to East Union listed first.
    • Saint Bonifacius
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Minnetrista
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Shorewood
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Tonka Bay
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Tonka Bay is located in Hennepin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tonka Bay
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,551 people
    • Eden Prairie
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Excelsior
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Greenwood
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Greenwood is located in Hennepin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 937 people
    • Mound
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • 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>
    • Spring Park
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Minnetonka Beach
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Minnetonka Beach is located in Hennepin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minnetonka Beach
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 584 people
    • Deephaven
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Crystal Bay
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Crystal Bay is located in Hennepin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crystal Bay
  • Le Sueur County
    • The following are listed by their distance from East Union, with the one closest to East Union listed first.
    • Heidelberg
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Heidelberg is located in Le Sueur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heidelberg
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 122 people
    • Saint Thomas
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Saint Thomas is located in Le Sueur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Thomas
    • Lexington
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Lexington is located in Le Sueur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lexington
    • Montgomery
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Le Sueur
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Le Center
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Cordova
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Cordova is located in Le Sueur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cordova
    • Ottawa
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Ottawa is located in Le Sueur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ottawa
    • Cleveland
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Kilkenny
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
  • McLeod County
    • The following are listed by their distance from East Union, with the one closest to East Union listed first.
    • Plato
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Lester Prairie
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Glencoe
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Winsted
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Silver Lake
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Sumter
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Sumter is located in McLeod County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumter
    • Biscay
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Biscay is located in McLeod County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Biscay
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 109 people
  • Nicollet County
    • Saint Peter
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Ramsey County
    • Lauderdale
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Lauderdale is located in Ramsey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lauderdale
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,484 people
  • Rice County
    • The following are listed by their distance from East Union, with the one closest to East Union listed first.
    • Lonsdale
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Webster
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Wheatland
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Wheatland is located in Rice County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheatland
    • Trondjem
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Trondjem is located in Rice County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trondjem
    • Millersburg
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Millersburg is located in Rice County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millersburg
    • Dundas
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Scott County
    • The following are listed by their distance from East Union, with the one closest to East Union listed first.
    • Jordan
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Marystown
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • Marystown is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marystown
    • Belle Plaine
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Shakopee
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Prior Lake
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Union Hill
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Union Hill is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Hill
    • Saint Patrick
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Saint Patrick is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Patrick
    • New Prague
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Cedar Lake
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Cedar Lake is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Lake
    • Credit River
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Credit River is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Credit River
    • Savage
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • New Market
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
  • Sibley County
    • The following are listed by their distance from East Union, with the one closest to East Union listed first.
    • Green Isle
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Henderson
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Arlington
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • New Auburn
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Gaylord
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Wright County
    • The following are listed by their distance from East Union, with the one closest to East Union listed first.
    • Delano
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Rockford
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Montrose
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Waverly
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Hanover
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
    • Howard Lake
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)

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

Cemeteries Near East Union ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of East Union.

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 East Union - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Swedish Lutheran Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Swedish Methodist Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Augustana Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • St. Nickolas Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Preiss Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • German Reformed Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Spirit Hill Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Calvary Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Mt. Hope Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • West Union Lutheran Church Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Guardian Angel Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Cologne United Methodist Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (286 more) ...
    • St. Marys Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Moravian Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)

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>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, East Union had a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Dahlgren
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Dahlgren is located in Carver County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dahlgren
  • Jordan
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Merriam
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Merriam is located in Scott County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merriam
  • Carver
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Gotha
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Gotha is located in Carver County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gotha
  • Marystown
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Marystown is located in Scott County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marystown
  • Augusta
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Augusta is located in Carver County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Augusta
  • Chaska
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Cologne
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Hazeltine
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Hazeltine is located in Carver County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazeltine
  • Lydia
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Lydia is located in Scott County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lydia
  • Assumption
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Assumption is located in Carver County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Assumption
  • Continue List   (19 more) ...
    • Coney Island
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Coney Island is located in Carver County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coney Island
    • Shakopee
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Waconia
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)

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

Newspapers Published in East Union ...

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 168 newspapers that have been published in the area around East Union.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of East Union, there are papers which were published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for East Union.

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 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 Union:

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 East Union, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- East Union) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.