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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 Heidelberg (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 Heidelberg. 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 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 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.

Heidelberg is located in Le Sueur County.

To see how the shape of Minnesota's counties have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Le Sueur County: Blue Earth, Nicollet, Rice, Scott, Sibley & Waseca.

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

  • Le Sueur County     (The home county of Heidelberg)
  • Blue Earth County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Heidelberg, with the one closest to Heidelberg listed first.
    • Madison Lake
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Madison Lake have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madison Lake
      • Madison Lake is located in Blue Earth County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,202 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Madison Lake <1>
    • Smiths Mill
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Smiths Mill have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smiths Mill
      • Smiths Mill is located in Blue Earth County
    • Eagle Lake
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Eagle Lake have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagle Lake
      • Eagle Lake is located in Blue Earth County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,123 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Eagle Lake <1>
    • Mankato
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Mankato have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mankato
      • Mankato is located in Blue Earth County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 43,435 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mankato <1>
    • Saint Clair
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Saint Clair have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Clair
      • Saint Clair is located in Blue Earth County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 821 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Saint Clair <1>
  • Carver County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Heidelberg, with the one closest to Heidelberg listed first.
    • Gotha
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Gotha. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gotha
      • Gotha is located in Carver County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Gotha
      • From Heidelberg to Gotha
    • Carver
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Assumption
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Assumption have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Assumption
      • Assumption is located in Carver County
    • Dahlgren
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Dahlgren. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dahlgren
      • Dahlgren is located in Carver County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Dahlgren
      • From Heidelberg to Dahlgren
    • Chaska
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Cologne
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cologne have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cologne
      • Cologne is located in Carver County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,860 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cologne <1>
    • Hazeltine
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Hamburg
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Norwood
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Norwood have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwood
      • Norwood is located in Carver County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Norwood <1>
    • Norwood Young America
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Norwood Young America have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwood Young America
      • Norwood Young America is located in Carver County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,794 people
    • Young America
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Young America have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Young America
      • Young America is located in Carver County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Young America <1>
    • Chanhassen
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
  • Dakota County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Heidelberg, with the one closest to Heidelberg listed first.
    • Eureka Center
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Lakeville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Castle Rock
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Castle Rock have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Castle Rock
      • Castle Rock is located in Dakota County
    • Waterford
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Waterford. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterford
      • Waterford is located in Dakota County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Waterford
      • From Heidelberg to Waterford
    • Burnsville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Burnsville have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnsville
      • Burnsville is located in Dakota County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 62,170 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Burnsville <1>
    • Farmington
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Apple Valley
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Apple Valley have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Apple Valley
      • Apple Valley is located in Dakota County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 54,847 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Apple Valley <1>
    • Randolph
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Nicols
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Nicols. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nicols
      • Nicols is located in Dakota County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Nicols
      • From Heidelberg to Nicols
  • Goodhue County
  • Hennepin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Heidelberg, with the one closest to Heidelberg listed first.
    • Eden Prairie
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Excelsior
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Bloomington
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Greenwood
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Greenwood have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood
      • Greenwood is located in Hennepin County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 937 people
    • Saint Bonifacius
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Saint Bonifacius have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Bonifacius
      • Saint Bonifacius is located in Hennepin County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,345 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Saint Bonifacius <1>
    • Shorewood
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Shorewood have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shorewood
      • Shorewood is located in Hennepin County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 8,098 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Shorewood <1>
    • Tonka Bay
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Tonka Bay have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tonka Bay
      • Tonka Bay is located in Hennepin County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,551 people
    • Deephaven
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Deephaven have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deephaven
      • Deephaven is located in Hennepin County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,898 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Deephaven <1>
    • Minnetonka Beach
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
    • Minnetrista
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
    • Mound
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Mound have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mound
      • Mound is located in Hennepin County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 9,404 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mound <1>
    • Edina
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • McLeod County
    • Plato
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Plato. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plato
      • Plato is located in McLeod County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 303 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Plato <1>
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Plato
      • From Heidelberg to Plato
  • Nicollet County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Heidelberg, with the one closest to Heidelberg listed first.
    • Saint Peter
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Oshawa
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • New Sweden
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for New Sweden. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Sweden
      • New Sweden is located in Nicollet County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to New Sweden
      • From Heidelberg to New Sweden
    • North Mankato
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for North Mankato have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Mankato
      • North Mankato is located in Nicollet County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 14,052 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for North Mankato <1>
  • Rice County
  • Scott County
  • Sibley County
  • Steele County
  • Waseca County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Heidelberg, with the one closest to Heidelberg listed first.
    • Elysian
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Palmer
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Palmer. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmer
      • Palmer is located in Waseca County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Palmer
      • From Heidelberg to Palmer
    • Janesville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Janesville have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Janesville
      • Janesville is located in Waseca County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,247 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Janesville <1>
    • Waseca
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)

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

Cemeteries Near Heidelberg ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Heidelberg.

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.

If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).

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

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

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.<6>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Heidelberg had a population of 162 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, Heidelberg had a population of 122 people.

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

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

Newspapers Published in Heidelberg ...

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 67 newspapers that have been published in the area around Heidelberg.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Heidelberg, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<5>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Heidelberg.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we begin with 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 Heidelberg:

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Heidelberg. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.

The official website for Le Sueur County: www.co.le-sueur.mn.us/

The official website for State of Minnesota: https://mn.gov/

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 location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required.
<3>An 'estimated' location is one where we have been given GPS coordinates, but are unable to verify the accuracy of those coordinates. That said, we have some confidence that we have placed the marker near the actual location. A typical reason for being unable to verify a location is that it might be on private property or maybe historic and gone without an obvious trace.
<4>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.
<5>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 drawn from Point A (ie- Heidelberg) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Heidelberg. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 44.4920, Longitude: -93.6264       In this case, the coordinates for Heidelberg have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
<6>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 Heidelberg, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.




 

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This page was last modified/updated: 28 Apr 2025