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 Elgin (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 Elgin. 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 northeast 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 north.
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 north 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.
Elgin is located in Wabasha 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 Wabasha County: Goodhue, Olmsted, Winona, Buffalo (WI) & Pepin (WI).
Below are the counties that are near Elgin. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Elgin:
- Wabasha County (The home county of Elgin)
- The following are listed by their distance from Elgin, with the one closest to Elgin listed first.
- Plainview
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Millville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Jarrett
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Jarrett is located in Wabasha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jarrett
- Hammond
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Hammond is located in Wabasha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hammond
- Population from the 2020 Census: 167 people
- Zumbro Falls
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Kellogg
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Weaver
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Weaver is located in Wabasha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weaver
- Mazeppa
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Minneiska
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Wabasha
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Reads Landing
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Lake City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Dodge County
- The following are listed by their distance from Elgin, with the one closest to Elgin listed first.
- Kasson
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Mantorville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Concord
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Concord is located in Dodge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
- Dodge Center
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Fillmore County
- The following are listed by their distance from Elgin, with the one closest to Elgin listed first.
- Chatfield
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Fillmore
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Fillmore is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fillmore
- Fountain
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Wykoff
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Spring Valley
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Peterson
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Goodhue County
- The following are listed by their distance from Elgin, with the one closest to Elgin listed first.
- Pine Island
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Bellechester
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Bellechester is located in Goodhue County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellechester
- Population from the 2020 Census: 177 people
- Zumbrota
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Goodhue
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Roscoe
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Roscoe is located in Goodhue County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roscoe
- Frontenac
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Wanamingo
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Mower County
- Racine
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Olmsted County
- The following are listed by their distance from Elgin, with the one closest to Elgin listed first.
- Viola
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Viola is located in Olmsted County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Viola
- Potsdam
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Potsdam is located in Olmsted County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Potsdam
- Eyota
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Dover
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Predmore
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Predmore is located in Olmsted County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Predmore
- Rochester
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Oronoco
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Simpson
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Simpson is located in Olmsted County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simpson
- Genoa
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Genoa is located in Olmsted County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Genoa
- Post Town
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Post Town is located in Olmsted County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Post Town
- Byron
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Shanty Town
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Shanty Town is located in Olmsted County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shanty Town
- Stewartville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Winona County
- The following are listed by their distance from Elgin, with the one closest to Elgin listed first.
- Beaver ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Beaver is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver
- Elba
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Elba is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elba
- Population from the 2020 Census: 156 people
- Saint Charles
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Altura
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Utica
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Saratoga
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Saratoga is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saratoga
- Troy
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Troy is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Troy
- Clyde
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Clyde is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clyde
- Rollingstone
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Lewiston
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Minnesota City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Stockton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Stockton is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stockton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 773 people
- Wyattville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Wyattville is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyattville
- Buffalo County (WI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Elgin, with the one closest to Elgin listed first.
- Buffalo
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Buffalo is located in Buffalo County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo
- Buffalo City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Buffalo City is located in Buffalo County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 948 people
- Cochrane
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Cochrane is located in Buffalo County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cochrane
- Population from the 2020 Census: 409 people
- Alma
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Alma is located in Buffalo County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alma
- Population from the 2020 Census: 713 people
- Nelson
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Nelson is located in Buffalo County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nelson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 343 people
- Fountain City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Fountain City is located in Buffalo County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fountain City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 842 people
- Anchorage ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Anchorage is located in Buffalo County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anchorage
- Savoy ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Savoy is located in Buffalo County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Savoy
- Waumandee
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Waumandee is located in Buffalo County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waumandee
- Maxville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Maxville is located in Buffalo County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maxville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 302 people
- Pepin County (WI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Elgin, with the one closest to Elgin listed first.
- Lakeport
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Lakeport is located in Pepin County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeport
- Pepin
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Pepin is located in Pepin County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pepin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 747 people
- Stockholm
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Stockholm is located in Pepin County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stockholm
- Population from the 2020 Census: 64 people
- Barry Corner
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Barry Corner is located in Pepin County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barry Corner
- Lund
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Lund is located in Pepin County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lund
- Ella
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Ella is located in Pepin County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ella
- Pierce County (WI)
- Maiden Rock
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Maiden Rock is located in Pierce County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maiden Rock
- Population from the 2020 Census: 119 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Elgin, see our County-by-County Page for Elgin.
Cemeteries Near Elgin ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Elgin.
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 Elgin - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Elgin covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Elgin, with the one closest to Elgin listed first.
- Pleasant Valley Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- St. John's Lutheran Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Greenwood Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- St. Joachim Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Oak Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Little Valley Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Potsdam Lutheran Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Zion Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Woodlawn Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Haverhill Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Randall Fork Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- St. Paul's Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Continue List (217 more) ...
- Pleasant Prairie Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Greenland Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Fitch 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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Elgin had a population of 300 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Elgin had a population of 1,080 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Elgin, with the one closest to Elgin listed first.
- Viola
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Viola is located in Olmsted County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Viola
- Plainview
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Potsdam
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Potsdam is located in Olmsted County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Potsdam
- Millville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Jarrett
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Jarrett is located in Wabasha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jarrett
- Chester
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Chester is located in Olmsted County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chester
- Eyota
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Hammond
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Hammond is located in Wabasha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hammond
- Population from the 2020 Census: 167 people
- South Troy
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- South Troy is located in Wabasha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Troy
- Dover
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Elba
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Elba is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elba
- Population from the 2020 Census: 156 people
- Beaver ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Beaver is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Rochester
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Marion
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Marion is located in Olmsted County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marion
- Saint Charles
(13 miles [20.9 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 Elgin. See our List of 1890's Communities around Elgin.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Elgin ...
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 78 newspapers that have been published in the area around Elgin.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Elgin. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Elgin and those printed in the larger area surrounding Elgin.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3> of Elgin.
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 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 Elgin:
- Websites specific to Minnesota
- Pages specific to Wabasha County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Dodge County
- Fillmore County
- Goodhue County
- Mower County
- Olmsted County
- Winona County
- Buffalo County
- Pepin County
- Pierce 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 Elgin, 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' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Elgin) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |