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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 Hereford (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 Hereford. 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.

Hereford is located in Grant 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 Grant County: Douglas, Otter Tail, Pope, Stevens, Traverse & Wilkin.

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

  • Grant County     (The home county of Hereford)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hereford, with the one closest to Hereford listed first.
    • Wendell
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Elbow Lake
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Norcross
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Norcross is located in Grant County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norcross
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 71 people
    • Thorsborg
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Thorsborg is located in Grant County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thorsborg
    • Barrett
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Barrett is located in Grant County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barrett
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 414 people
    • Herman
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Herman is located in Grant County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herman
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 445 people
    • Erdahl
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Erdahl is located in Grant County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erdahl
    • Ashby
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Hoffman
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Douglas County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hereford, with the one closest to Hereford listed first.
    • Melby
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Melby is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melby
    • Evansville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Brandon
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Kensington
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Millerville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Millerville is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millerville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 103 people
  • Otter Tail County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hereford, with the one closest to Hereford listed first.
    • Western
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Western is located in Otter Tail County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Western
    • Dalton
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Fergus Falls
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Underwood
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Elizabeth
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Battle Lake
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Edwards
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Edwards is located in Otter Tail County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edwards
    • Clitherall
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Pope County
    • Farwell
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Farwell is located in Pope County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farwell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 52 people
  • Stevens County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hereford, with the one closest to Hereford listed first.
    • Donnelly
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Donnelly is located in Stevens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Donnelly
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 233 people
    • Alberta
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Alberta is located in Stevens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alberta
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 102 people
    • Chokio
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Traverse County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hereford, with the one closest to Hereford listed first.
    • Charlesville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Charlesville is located in Traverse County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charlesville
    • Tintah
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Tintah is located in Traverse County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tintah
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 56 people
    • Wheaton
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Dumont
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Dumont is located in Traverse County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dumont
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 87 people
    • Collis
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Collis is located in Traverse County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collis
  • Wilkin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hereford, with the one closest to Hereford listed first.
    • Nashua
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Nashua is located in Wilkin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nashua
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 66 people
    • Campbell
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Campbell is located in Wilkin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campbell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 152 people
    • Tenney
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Tenney is located in Wilkin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tenney
      • Estimated population in 2011: 5 people
    • Foxhome
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Foxhome is located in Wilkin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foxhome
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 112 people
    • Childs
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Childs is located in Wilkin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Childs
    • Doran
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Doran is located in Wilkin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doran
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 47 people
    • Breckenridge
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Richland County (ND)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hereford, with the one closest to Hereford listed first.
    • Fairmount
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Wahpeton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Wahpeton is located in Richland County (ND)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wahpeton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 7,728 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Wahpeton <1>
    • Oswald
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Oswald is located in Richland County (ND)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oswald
  • Roberts County (SD)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hereford, with the one closest to Hereford listed first.
    • White Rock
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • White Rock is located in Roberts County (SD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Rock
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3 people
    • Rosholt
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Rosholt is located in Roberts County (SD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosholt
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 424 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Rosholt <1>

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

Cemeteries Near Hereford ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Hereford.

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

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

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

  • Hereford Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Trinity Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Sigdal Norwegian Lutheran Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • West Elbow Lake Lutheran Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Lawrence Presbyterian Church Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Gorton Twp. Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Norcross Lutheran Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Western Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • St. Loretto Catholic Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. Loretto Catholic Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the St. Loretto Catholic Cemetery is located outside and to the west of Elbow Lake.
    • The St. Loretto Catholic Cemetery has also been known as:
    • St. Loretto Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2163077 <2>
  • Ness Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ness Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Ness Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the west of Elbow Lake.
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #82885 <2>
  • Rock Prairie Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Aastad Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (151 more) ...

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>

While we didn't find Hereford in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Hereford.

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

  • Wendell
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Elbow Lake
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Tintah
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Tintah is located in Traverse County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tintah
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 56 people
  • Western
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Western is located in Otter Tail County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Western
  • Norcross
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Norcross is located in Grant County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norcross
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 71 people
  • Thorsborg
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Thorsborg is located in Grant County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thorsborg
  • Barrett
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Barrett is located in Grant County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barrett
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 414 people
  • Campbell
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Campbell is located in Wilkin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campbell
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 152 people
  • Herman
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Herman is located in Grant County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herman
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 445 people
  • Erdahl
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Erdahl is located in Grant County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erdahl
  • Dalton
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Tenney
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Tenney is located in Wilkin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tenney
    • Estimated population in 2011: 5 people
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Ashby
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Parkdale
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Parkdale is located in Otter Tail County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkdale
    • Fergus Falls
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)

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

Newspapers Published in Hereford ...

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 72 newspapers that have been published in the area around Hereford.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Hereford, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Hereford.

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 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 Hereford:

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 Hereford, 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' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Hereford) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.