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 Hills (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 Hills. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
Hills is located in Rock 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 Rock County: Lyon (IA), Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Minnehaha (SD) & Moody (SD).
Below are the counties that are near Hills. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Hills:
- Rock County (The home county of Hills)
- The following are listed by their distance from Hills, with the one closest to Hills listed first.
- Bruce
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Bruce is located in Rock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bruce
- Steen
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Steen is located in Rock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steen
- Population from the 2020 Census: 164 people
- Manley
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Manley is located in Rock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manley
- Beaver Creek
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Beaver Creek is located in Rock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver Creek
- Population from the 2020 Census: 283 people
- Ash Creek
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Ash Creek is located in Rock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ash Creek
- Luverne
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Kanaranzi
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Magnolia
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Magnolia is located in Rock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnolia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 208 people
- Hardwick
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Kenneth
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Kenneth is located in Rock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenneth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 66 people
- Nobles County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hills, with the one closest to Hills listed first.
- Ellsworth
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Adrian
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Lismore
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Lismore is located in Nobles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lismore
- Population from the 2020 Census: 218 people
- Leota
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Leota is located in Nobles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leota
- Ransom
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Ransom is located in Nobles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ransom
- Rushmore
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Rushmore is located in Nobles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rushmore
- Population from the 2020 Census: 334 people
- Pipestone County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hills, with the one closest to Hills listed first.
- Jasper Sunrise Village
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Jasper
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Jasper is located in Pipestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jasper
- Population from the 2020 Census: 603 people
- Trosky
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Ihlen
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Edgerton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Hatfield
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Hatfield is located in Pipestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 52 people
- Lyon County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Hills, with the one closest to Hills listed first.
- Lester
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Lester is located in Lyon County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lester
- Population from the 2020 Census: 303 people
- Larchwood
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Rock Rapids
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Alvord
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Klondike
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Klondike is located in Lyon County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Klondike
- Inwood
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Edna
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Edna is located in Lyon County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edna
- Doon
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Beloit
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Beloit is located in Lyon County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beloit
- George
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Little Rock
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Sioux County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Hills, with the one closest to Hills listed first.
- Rock Valley
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Perkins
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Perkins is located in Sioux County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perkins
- Hull
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Hull is located in Sioux County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hull
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,296 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hull <1>
- Matlock
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Lebanon
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Lebanon is located in Sioux County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lebanon
- Boyden
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Boyden is located in Sioux County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyden
- Population from the 2020 Census: 682 people
- Lincoln County (SD)
- The following are listed by their distance from Hills, with the one closest to Hills listed first.
- Shindler
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Shindler is located in Lincoln County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shindler
- Population from the 2010 Census: 584 people
- Harrisburg
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Canton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Fairview
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Worthing
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Tea
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Tea is located in Lincoln County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tea
- Population from the 2020 Census: 6,405 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Tea <1>
- Hudson
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Moe
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Moe is located in Lincoln County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moe
- Lennox
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Minnehaha County (SD)
- The following are listed by their distance from Hills, with the one closest to Hills listed first.
- Valley Springs
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Rowena
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Brandon
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Pine Lakes Addition
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Pine Lakes Addition is located in Minnehaha County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Lakes Addition
- Population from the 2010 Census: 314 people
- Garretson
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Split Rock Heights
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Split Rock Heights is located in Minnehaha County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Split Rock Heights
- Estimated population in 2014: 216 people
- Sherman
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Sherman is located in Minnehaha County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 82 people
- Norton Acres
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Norton Acres is located in Minnehaha County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norton Acres
- Population from the 2010 Census: 342 people
- Meadow View Addition
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Meadow View Addition is located in Minnehaha County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadow View Addition
- Population from the 2010 Census: 538 people
- Sioux Falls
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Renner Corner
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Renner Corner is located in Minnehaha County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Renner Corner
- Population from the 2010 Census: 305 people
- Renner
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Moody County (SD)
- Trent
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Hills, see our County-by-County Page for Hills.
Cemeteries Near Hills ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Hills.
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 Hills - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Hills covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Hills, with the one closest to Hills listed first.
- Dutch Reform Church Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- United Reformed Church Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Bethlehem Lutheran Church Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Nerison Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Flowerfield Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Hillside Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Trinity Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Pleasant View Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Larchwood Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Eastside Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Pleasant View Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Beaver Valley Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Continue List (119 more) ...
- Apostolic Christian Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Palisades Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Bear Valley Lutheran Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Hills had a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Hills had a population of 647 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Hills, with the one closest to Hills listed first.
- Bruce
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Bruce is located in Rock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bruce
- Steen
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Steen is located in Rock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steen
- Population from the 2020 Census: 164 people
- Manley
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Manley is located in Rock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manley
- Benclare
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Benclare is located in Minnehaha County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benclare
- Larchwood
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Lester
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Lester is located in Lyon County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lester
- Population from the 2020 Census: 303 people
- Beaver Creek
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Beaver Creek is located in Rock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver Creek
- Population from the 2020 Census: 283 people
- Valley Springs
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Ash Creek
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Ash Creek is located in Rock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ash Creek
- Booge
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Booge is located in Minnehaha County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Booge
- Rowena
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Granite
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Granite is located in Lyon County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granite
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Rock Rapids
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Luverne
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Brandon
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Hills. See our List of 1890's Communities around Hills.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Hills ...
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 124 newspapers that have been published in the area around Hills.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Hills. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Hills and those printed in the larger area surrounding Hills.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4> of Hills.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we start 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 Hills:
- Websites specific to Minnesota
- Pages specific to Rock County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Nobles County
- Pipestone County
- Lyon County
- Sioux County
- Lincoln County
- Minnehaha County
- Moody 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> | 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 Hills, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | 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- Hills) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |