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 Foley (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 Foley. 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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
Foley is located in Benton 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 Benton County: Isanti, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Sherburne & Stearns.
Below are the counties that are near Foley. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Foley:
- Benton County (The home county of Foley)
- The following are listed by their distance from Foley, with the one closest to Foley listed first.
- Ronneby
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Ronneby is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ronneby
- Gilman
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Oak Park
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Oak Park is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Park
- Duelm
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Duelm is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duelm
- Evergreen Village
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Evergreen Village is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evergreen Village
- Sauk Rapids
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Watab
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Watab is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watab
- Rice
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Anoka County
- Nowthen
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Nowthen is located in Anoka County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nowthen
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,732 people
- Isanti County
- The following are listed by their distance from Foley, with the one closest to Foley listed first.
- Dalbo
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Crown
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Crown is located in Isanti County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crown
- Bradford
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Bradford is located in Isanti County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradford
- Elm Park
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Elm Park is located in Isanti County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elm Park
- Kanabec County
- The following are listed by their distance from Foley, with the one closest to Foley listed first.
- Ogilvie
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Coin
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Coin is located in Kanabec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coin
- Mille Lacs County
- The following are listed by their distance from Foley, with the one closest to Foley listed first.
- Estes Brook
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Estes Brook is located in Mille Lacs County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Estes Brook
- Foreston
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Foreston is located in Mille Lacs County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foreston
- Population from the 2020 Census: 527 people
- Pease
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Pease is located in Mille Lacs County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pease
- Population from the 2020 Census: 224 people
- Milaca
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Princeton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Bock
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Onamia
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Morrison County
- The following are listed by their distance from Foley, with the one closest to Foley listed first.
- Ramey
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Ramey is located in Morrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ramey
- Morrill
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Morrill is located in Morrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morrill
- Buckman
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Buckman is located in Morrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 273 people
- Royalton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Hillman
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Genola
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Genola is located in Morrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Genola
- Population from the 2020 Census: 66 people
- North Prairie
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- North Prairie is located in Morrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Prairie
- Pierz
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Lastrup
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Bowlus
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Little Falls
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Elmdale
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Elmdale is located in Morrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmdale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 116 people
- Sherburne County
- The following are listed by their distance from Foley, with the one closest to Foley listed first.
- Santiago
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Santiago is located in Sherburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Santiago
- Cable
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Cable is located in Sherburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cable
- Clear Lake
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Orrock
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Orrock is located in Sherburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orrock
- Becker
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Salida
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Salida is located in Sherburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salida
- Zimmerman
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- 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
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Elk River
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Stearns County
- The following are listed by their distance from Foley, with the one closest to Foley listed first.
- Saint Cloud
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Evergreen Village
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Evergreen Village is located in Stearns County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evergreen Village
- Sartell
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Waite Park
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Saint Stephen
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Saint Stephen is located in Stearns County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Stephen
- Population from the 2020 Census: 867 people
- Saint Augusta
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Saint Augusta is located in Stearns County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Augusta
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,900 people
- Saint Joseph
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Pleasant Lake
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Pleasant Lake is located in Stearns County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Lake
- Collegeville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Opole
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Opole is located in Stearns County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Opole
- Saint Wendel
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Saint Wendel is located in Stearns County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Wendel
- Rockville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Wright County
- The following are listed by their distance from Foley, with the one closest to Foley listed first.
- Clearwater
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Hasty
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Hasty is located in Wright County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hasty
- Silver Creek
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Silver Creek is located in Wright County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Creek
- Monticello
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Annandale
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- South Haven
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Maple Lake
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Otsego
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Foley, see our County-by-County Page for Foley.
Cemeteries Near Foley ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Foley.
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 Foley - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Foley covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Foley, with the one closest to Foley listed first.
- St. Johns Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Riverside Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Maywood Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Polish Lutheran Church Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- St. Peter & Paul Catholic Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- St. John's Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- St. Lawrence Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Elwell Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- St. Patrick's Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- St. Francis Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Polish Church Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Polish National Catholic Church Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Continue List (152 more) ...
- Glendorado Lutheran Church Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Milo Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Pilgrims Rest Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 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, Foley had a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Foley had a population of 2,653 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Foley, with the one closest to Foley listed first.
- Parent
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Parent is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parent
- Gilman
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Oak Park
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Oak Park is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Park
- Duelm
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Duelm is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duelm
- Estes Brook
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Estes Brook is located in Mille Lacs County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Estes Brook
- Santiago
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Santiago is located in Sherburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Santiago
- Foreston
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Foreston is located in Mille Lacs County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foreston
- Population from the 2020 Census: 527 people
- Morrill
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Morrill is located in Morrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morrill
- Sauk Rapids
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Cable
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Cable is located in Sherburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cable
- Watab
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Watab is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watab
- Saint Cloud
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Milaca
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Clear Lake
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Rice
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Foley. See our List of 1890's Communities around Foley.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Foley ...
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 117 newspapers that have been published in the area around Foley.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Foley. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Foley and those printed in the larger area surrounding Foley.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4> of Foley.
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 Foley:
- Websites specific to Minnesota
- Pages specific to Benton County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Anoka County
- Isanti County
- Kanabec County
- Mille Lacs County
- Morrison County
- Sherburne County
- Stearns 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> | 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 Foley, 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- Foley) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |