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

Hanska is located in Brown 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 Brown County: Blue Earth, Cottonwood, Nicollet, Redwood, Renville & Watonwan.

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

  • Brown County     (The home county of Hanska)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hanska, with the one closest to Hanska listed first.
    • Searles
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Searles is located in Brown County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Searles
    • New Ulm
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Iberia
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Iberia is located in Brown County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iberia
    • Essig
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Sleepy Eye
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Leavenworth
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Leavenworth is located in Brown County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leavenworth
    • Cobden
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Cobden is located in Brown County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cobden
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 35 people
    • Comfrey
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Evan
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Evan is located in Brown County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evan
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 84 people
    • Springfield
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
  • Blue Earth County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hanska, with the one closest to Hanska listed first.
    • Lake Crystal
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Judson
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Judson is located in Blue Earth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Judson
    • Garden City
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Garden City is located in Blue Earth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden City
    • Vernon Center
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Vernon Center is located in Blue Earth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vernon Center
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 313 people
    • Willow Creek
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Willow Creek is located in Blue Earth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willow Creek
    • Rapidan
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Rapidan is located in Blue Earth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rapidan
    • Skyline
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Skyline is located in Blue Earth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skyline
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 299 people
    • Good Thunder
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Amboy
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Amboy is located in Blue Earth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amboy
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 505 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Amboy <1>
    • Mankato
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Mankato is located in Blue Earth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mankato
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 43,435 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mankato <1>
    • Beauford
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Beauford is located in Blue Earth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beauford
    • Eagle Lake
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Cottonwood County
    • Mountain Lake
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Faribault County
    • Winnebago
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Le Sueur County
    • Kasota
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
  • Martin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hanska, with the one closest to Hanska listed first.
    • Truman
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Truman is located in Martin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Truman
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,028 people
    • Ormsby
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Ormsby is located in Martin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ormsby
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 121 people
    • Northrop
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Trimont
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
  • Nicollet County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hanska, with the one closest to Hanska listed first.
    • Courtland
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Nicollet
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Lafayette
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Oshawa
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Oshawa is located in Nicollet County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oshawa
    • North Mankato
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • New Sweden
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • New Sweden is located in Nicollet County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Sweden
    • Saint Peter
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Redwood County
    • Morgan
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Morgan is located in Redwood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 832 people
  • Renville County
    • Fairfax
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Sibley County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hanska, with the one closest to Hanska listed first.
    • Gibbon
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Winthrop
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
  • Watonwan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hanska, with the one closest to Hanska listed first.
    • La Salle
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • La Salle is located in Watonwan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Salle
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 86 people
    • Madelia
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Godahl
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Godahl is located in Watonwan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Godahl
    • Grogan
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Grogan is located in Watonwan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grogan
    • Saint James
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Lewisville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Lewisville is located in Watonwan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewisville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 244 people
    • Darfur
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Darfur is located in Watonwan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darfur
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 102 people
    • Butterfield
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Butterfield is located in Watonwan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butterfield
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 582 people
    • Odin
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Odin is located in Watonwan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Odin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 104 people

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

Cemeteries Near Hanska ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Hanska.

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

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

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

  • Mt. Pisgah Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Zion Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Lake Hanska Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Linden Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Rice Lake Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • St. Johns Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • La Salle Lutheran Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Old Faith Lutheran Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Cottonwood Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Madelia Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Riverside Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Calvary Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (197 more) ...
    • North Lincoln Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Our Saviors Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • St. Josephs Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)

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 in 1895, Hanska had a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, Hanska had a population of 372 people.

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

  • Linden
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Linden is located in Brown County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linden
  • Madelia
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Grogan
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Grogan is located in Watonwan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grogan
  • Courtland
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
  • New Ulm
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
  • Iberia
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Iberia is located in Brown County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iberia
  • Saint James
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Essig
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Lake Crystal
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
  • Judson
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Judson is located in Blue Earth County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Judson
  • Sleepy Eye
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Leavenworth
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Leavenworth is located in Brown County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leavenworth
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...
    • Garden City
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Garden City is located in Blue Earth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden City
    • Nicollet
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • South Branch
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • South Branch is located in Watonwan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Branch

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Hanska ...

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 92 newspapers that have been published in the area around Hanska.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Hanska. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Hanska and those printed in the larger area surrounding Hanska.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3> of Hanska.

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 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 Hanska:

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 Hanska, 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- Hanska) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.