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 Harris (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 Harris. 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.
Harris is located in Chisago 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 Chisago County: Anoka, Isanti, Kanabec, Pine, Washington, Burnett (WI) & Polk (WI).
Below are the counties that are near Harris. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Harris:
- Chisago County (The home county of Harris)
- The following are listed by their distance from Harris, with the one closest to Harris listed first.
- Rush City
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- North Branch
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Branch
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Branch is located in Chisago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Branch
- Almelund
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Stacy
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Lindstrom
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Chisago City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Center City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Wyoming
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Shafer
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Taylors Falls
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Franconia
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Franconia is located in Chisago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franconia
- Anoka County
- The following are listed by their distance from Harris, with the one closest to Harris listed first.
- Linwood
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Linwood is located in Anoka County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linwood
- Coopers Corner
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Coopers Corner is located in Anoka County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coopers Corner
- Bethel
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- East Bethel
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- City of Columbus
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- City of Columbus is located in Anoka County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for City of Columbus
- Estimated population in 2015: 4,007 people
- Saint Francis
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Cedar
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Oak Grove
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Ham Lake
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Andover
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Nowthen
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Nowthen is located in Anoka County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nowthen
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,732 people
- Centerville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Lino Lakes
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Isanti County
- The following are listed by their distance from Harris, with the one closest to Harris listed first.
- Minnesota Boys Town
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Minnesota Boys Town is located in Isanti County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minnesota Boys Town
- Stanchfield
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Weber
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Weber is located in Isanti County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weber
- Grandy
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Cambridge
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Braham
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Isanti
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Elm Park
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Elm Park is located in Isanti County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elm Park
- Bradford
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Bradford is located in Isanti County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradford
- Dalbo
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Crown
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Crown is located in Isanti County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crown
- Kanabec County
- The following are listed by their distance from Harris, with the one closest to Harris listed first.
- Grasston
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Coin
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Coin is located in Kanabec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coin
- Quamba
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Quamba is located in Kanabec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quamba
- Population from the 2020 Census: 127 people
- Mora
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Ogilvie
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Mille Lacs County
- The following are listed by their distance from Harris, with the one closest to Harris listed first.
- Princeton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Bock
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Pine County
- The following are listed by their distance from Harris, with the one closest to Harris listed first.
- Rock Creek
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Pine City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Henriette
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Henriette is located in Pine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henriette
- Population from the 2020 Census: 69 people
- Beroun
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Beroun is located in Pine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beroun
- Brook Park
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Brook Park is located in Pine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brook Park
- Population from the 2020 Census: 132 people
- Hinckley
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Cloverdale
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Cloverdale is located in Pine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cloverdale
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Harris, with the one closest to Harris listed first.
- Forest Lake
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Scandia
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Otisville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Otisville is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otisville
- Hugo
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- 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>
- Marine-on-Saint-Croix
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Burnett County (WI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Harris, with the one closest to Harris listed first.
- Randall
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Randall is located in Burnett County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Randall
- Grantsburg
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Grantsburg is located in Burnett County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grantsburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,296 people
- Alpha
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Alpha is located in Burnett County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alpha
- Polk County (WI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Harris, with the one closest to Harris listed first.
- Atlas
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Atlas is located in Polk County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atlas
- Saint Croix Falls
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Saint Croix Falls is located in Polk County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Croix Falls
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,059 people
- Centuria
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Centuria is located in Polk County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centuria
- Population from the 2020 Census: 905 people
- Dresser
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Dresser is located in Polk County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dresser
- Population from the 2020 Census: 864 people
- Osceola
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Osceola is located in Polk County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osceola
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,580 people
- Milltown
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Milltown is located in Polk County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milltown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 875 people
- Frederic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Frederic is located in Polk County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frederic
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,080 people
- Luck
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Luck is located in Polk County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Luck
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,051 people
- Balsam Lake
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Balsam Lake is located in Polk County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Balsam Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 978 people
- Horse Creek
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Horse Creek is located in Polk County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horse Creek
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Harris, see our County-by-County Page for Harris.
Cemeteries Near Harris ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Harris.
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 Harris - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Harris covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Harris, with the one closest to Harris listed first.
- Old Harris Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Mission Covenant Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Oak Grove Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Fish Lake Lutheran Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Spring Lake Lutheran Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Trinity Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Taylor Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Green Acres Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Sunrise Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Sacred Heart Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Calvary Lutheran Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- St. Johns Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (167 more) ...
- St. Johns Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Gee Family Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Covenant Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 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 Harris had a population of 504 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Harris had a population of 1,189 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Harris, with the one closest to Harris listed first.
- Stark
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Stark is located in Chisago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stark
- Spring Lake
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Spring Lake is located in Isanti County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Lake
- North Branch
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Rush City
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Sunrise
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Sunrise is located in Chisago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunrise
- Rush Point
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Rush Point is located in Chisago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rush Point
- Kost
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Kost is located in Chisago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kost
- Randall
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Randall is located in Burnett County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Randall
- Blomford
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Blomford is located in Isanti County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blomford
- Stanchfield
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Rock Creek
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Cambridge
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Almelund
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Braham
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Stacy
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Harris. See our List of 1890's Communities around Harris.
Newspapers Published in Harris ...
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 100 newspapers that have been published in the area around Harris.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Harris, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Harris.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with 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 Harris:
- Websites specific to Minnesota
- Pages specific to Chisago County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Anoka County
- Isanti County
- Kanabec County
- Mille Lacs County
- Pine County
- Washington County
- Burnett County
- Polk 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 Harris, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Harris) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |