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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 Hanover (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 Hanover. 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 and hospitals 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.

Hanover is primarily located in Wright County. A portion of Hanover extends into Hennepin 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 Wright County: Carver, Hennepin, McLeod, Meeker, Sherburne & Stearns.

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

  • Wright County     (The home county of Hanover)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hanover, with the one closest to Hanover listed first.
    • Saint Michael
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Albertville
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Rockford
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Otsego
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Buffalo
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Delano
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Monticello
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Montrose
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Waverly
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Rassat
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Rassat is located in Wright County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rassat
    • Maple Lake
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Silver Creek
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Silver Creek is located in Wright County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Creek
  • Anoka County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hanover, with the one closest to Hanover listed first.
    • Ramsey
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Anoka
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Nowthen
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Nowthen is located in Anoka County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nowthen
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,732 people
    • Coon Rapids
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Andover
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Coon Creek
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Coon Creek is located in Anoka County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coon Creek
    • Fridley
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Oak Grove
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Hilltop
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Hilltop is located in Anoka County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilltop
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 764 people
    • Spring Lake Park
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Cedar
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Saint Francis
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Carver County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hanover, with the one closest to Hanover listed first.
    • Watertown
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Hazelton
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Hazelton is located in Carver County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazelton
    • Victoria
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Chanhassen
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Mayer
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Hazeltine
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Hazeltine is located in Carver County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazeltine
    • Waconia
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Hollywood
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Hollywood is located in Carver County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollywood
    • New Germany
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Chaska
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Hydes Lake
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Hydes Lake is located in Carver County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hydes Lake
    • Dahlgren
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Dahlgren is located in Carver County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dahlgren
  • Hennepin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hanover, with the one closest to Hanover listed first.
    • Greenfield
      (4 miles [6.4 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
    • Rogers
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Rogers is located in Hennepin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rogers
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 13,623 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Rogers <1>
    • Loretto
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Corcoran
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Dayton
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Independence
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Independence is located in Hennepin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Independence
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,786 people
    • Medina
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Maple Plain
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Hamel
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Maple Grove
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Champlin
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Long Lake
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Isanti County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hanover, with the one closest to Hanover listed first.
    • Crown
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Crown is located in Isanti County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crown
    • Bradford
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Bradford is located in Isanti County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradford
    • Isanti
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • McLeod County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hanover, with the one closest to Hanover listed first.
    • Winsted
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Lester Prairie
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Mille Lacs County
    • Princeton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
  • Ramsey County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hanover, with the one closest to Hanover listed first.
    • Mounds View
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • New Brighton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Arden Hills
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Lauderdale
      (25 miles [40.2 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
    • Shoreview
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Falcon Heights
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Roseville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Cardigan Junction
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Cardigan Junction is located in Ramsey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cardigan Junction
    • North Oaks
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Vadnais Heights
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Little Canada
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Scott County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hanover, with the one closest to Hanover listed first.
    • Shakopee
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Marystown
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Marystown is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marystown
  • Sherburne County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hanover, with the one closest to Hanover listed first.
    • Big Lake
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Elk River
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Salida
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Salida is located in Sherburne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salida
    • Becker
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Becker is located in Sherburne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Becker
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,033 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Becker <1>
    • Orrock
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Orrock is located in Sherburne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orrock
    • Zimmerman
      (19 miles [30.6 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>
    • Clear Lake
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Santiago
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Santiago is located in Sherburne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Santiago
  • Stearns County
    • Fairhaven
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Fairhaven is located in Stearns County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairhaven

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

Cemeteries Near Hanover ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Hanover.

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 Hanover - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Reich Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Salem Lutheran Church Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Greenwood Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • St. Michael Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • St. Michael Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Old St. Thomas Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • St. Thomas Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • St. John the Evangelist Episcopal Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Elmwood Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • St. Janes Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Old St. Walburga Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • St. Albert Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (291 more) ...
    • Immanuel Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Fletcher Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • St. Martin 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.<2>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Hanover had a population of 60 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, Hanover had a population of 3,524 people.

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

  • Burschville
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Burschville is located in Hennepin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burschville
  • Rockford
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Rogers
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Rogers is located in Hennepin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rogers
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 13,623 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Rogers <1>
  • Corcoran
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Otsego
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Dayton
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
  • Buffalo
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
  • Delano
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Maple Plain
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
  • Hamel
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Bailey
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Bailey is located in Sherburne County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bailey
  • Maple Grove
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Monticello
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Big Lake
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Ditter
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Ditter is located in Hennepin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ditter

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

Newspapers Published in Hanover ...

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 371 newspapers that have been published in the area around Hanover.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Hanover, there are papers which were published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Hanover.

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 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 Hanover:

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 Hanover, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Hanover) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.