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 Elk River (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 Elk River. 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 Elk River ...
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 Elk River: Elk Riv.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Elk River. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Elk River.
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.
Elk River is located in Sherburne County and is the County Seat.
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 Sherburne County: Anoka, Benton, Isanti, Mille Lacs, Stearns & Wright.
Below are the counties that are near Elk River. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Elk River:
- Sherburne County (The home county of Elk River)
- The following are listed by their distance from Elk River, with the one closest to Elk River listed first.
- Zimmerman
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- 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>
- Big Lake
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Orrock
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Orrock is located in Sherburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orrock
- Salida
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Salida is located in Sherburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salida
- Becker
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Santiago
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Santiago is located in Sherburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Santiago
- Clear Lake
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Cable
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Cable is located in Sherburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cable
- Anoka County
- The following are listed by their distance from Elk River, with the one closest to Elk River listed first.
- Nowthen
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Nowthen is located in Anoka County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nowthen
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,732 people
- Ramsey
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Saint Francis
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Oak Grove
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Andover
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Anoka
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Cedar
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Bethel
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Coopers Corner
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Coopers Corner is located in Anoka County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coopers Corner
- Coon Rapids
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- East Bethel
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Coon Creek
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Coon Creek is located in Anoka County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coon Creek
- Benton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Elk River, with the one closest to Elk River listed first.
- Duelm
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Duelm is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duelm
- Foley
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Oak Park
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Oak Park is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Park
- Ronneby
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Ronneby is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ronneby
- Carver County
- Watertown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Chisago County
- The following are listed by their distance from Elk River, with the one closest to Elk River listed first.
- Wyoming
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Stacy
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Hennepin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Elk River, with the one closest to Elk River listed first.
- Rogers
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Dayton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Champlin
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Corcoran
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Maple Grove
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Osseo
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Greenfield
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Greenfield is located in Hennepin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,058 people
- Brooklyn Park
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Loretto
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Hamel
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Medina
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Brooklyn Center
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Isanti County
- The following are listed by their distance from Elk River, with the one closest to Elk River listed first.
- Crown
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Crown is located in Isanti County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crown
- Bradford
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Bradford is located in Isanti County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradford
- Isanti
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Cambridge
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Weber
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Weber is located in Isanti County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weber
- Dalbo
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Minnesota Boys Town
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Minnesota Boys Town is located in Isanti County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minnesota Boys Town
- Elm Park
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Elm Park is located in Isanti County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elm Park
- Grandy
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Stanchfield
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Kanabec County
- Coin
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Coin is located in Kanabec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coin
- Mille Lacs County
- The following are listed by their distance from Elk River, with the one closest to Elk River listed first.
- Princeton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Estes Brook
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Estes Brook is located in Mille Lacs County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Estes Brook
- Pease
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Pease is located in Mille Lacs County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pease
- Population from the 2020 Census: 224 people
- Foreston
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Foreston is located in Mille Lacs County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foreston
- Population from the 2020 Census: 527 people
- Milaca
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Ramsey County
- The following are listed by their distance from Elk River, with the one closest to Elk River listed first.
- Mounds View
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- New Brighton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Arden Hills
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Shoreview
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- North Oaks
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Cardigan Junction
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Cardigan Junction is located in Ramsey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cardigan Junction
- Lauderdale
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Lauderdale is located in Ramsey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lauderdale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,484 people
- Roseville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Falcon Heights
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Vadnais Heights
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Elk River, with the one closest to Elk River listed first.
- Forest Lake
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Hugo
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- 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>
- Wright County
- The following are listed by their distance from Elk River, with the one closest to Elk River listed first.
- Otsego
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Albertville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Saint Michael
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Monticello
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Hanover
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Buffalo
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Rockford
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Hasty
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Hasty is located in Wright County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hasty
- Silver Creek
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Silver Creek is located in Wright County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Creek
- Delano
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Maple Lake
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Clearwater
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Elk River, see our County-by-County Page for Elk River.
Cemeteries Near Elk River ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Elk River.
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 Elk River - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Elk River covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Elk River, with the one closest to Elk River listed first.
- St. Andrews Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Orono Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Vernon Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Ostego Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Twin Lakes Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Bailey Station Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Farm of Ernest Rahn Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Whitney Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Meadowville Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Lakeview Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Livonia Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- New St. John the Baptist Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (253 more) ...
- St. Albert Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Trott Brook Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Svea Hill Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
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 Elk River had a population of 679 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Elk River had a population of 25,601 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Elk River, with the one closest to Elk River listed first.
- Bailey
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Bailey is located in Sherburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bailey
- Otsego
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Zimmerman
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- 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>
- Big Lake
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Rogers
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Crown
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Crown is located in Isanti County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crown
- Dayton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Saint Francis
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Monticello
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Oak Grove
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Orrock
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Orrock is located in Sherburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orrock
- Hanover
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Champlin
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Anoka
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Salida
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Salida is located in Sherburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salida
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Elk River. See our List of 1890's Communities around Elk River.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Elk River ...
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 130 newspapers that have been published in the area around Elk River.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Elk River. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Elk River and those printed in the larger area surrounding Elk River.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<3> of Elk River.
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 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 Elk River:
- Websites specific to Minnesota
- Pages specific to Sherburne County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Anoka County
- Benton County
- Carver County
- Chisago County
- Hennepin County
- Isanti County
- Kanabec County
- Mille Lacs County
- Ramsey County
- Washington County
- Wright 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 Elk River, 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- Elk River) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |