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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 Lydia (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 Lydia. 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 and doctors 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.

Lydia is located in Scott 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 Scott County: Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Le Sueur, Rice & Sibley.

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

  • Scott County     (The home county of Lydia)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lydia, with the one closest to Lydia listed first.
    • Saint Patrick
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • Saint Patrick is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Patrick
    • Prior Lake
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Marystown
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
      • Marystown is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marystown
    • Cedar Lake
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
      • Cedar Lake is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Lake
    • Credit River
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • Credit River is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Credit River
    • Jordan
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Shakopee
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • New Prague
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Savage
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Elko New Market
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Elko New Market is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elko New Market
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,733 people
    • New Market
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Elko
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Union Hill
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Union Hill is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Hill
  • Anoka County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lydia, with the one closest to Lydia listed first.
    • Columbia Heights
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Hilltop
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Hilltop is located in Anoka County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilltop
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 764 people
  • Carver County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lydia, with the one closest to Lydia listed first.
    • Carver
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Chaska
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Dahlgren
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Dahlgren is located in Carver County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dahlgren
    • Hazeltine
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Hazeltine is located in Carver County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazeltine
    • Chanhassen
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Gotha
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Gotha is located in Carver County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gotha
    • Cologne
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Victoria
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Waconia
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Assumption
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Assumption is located in Carver County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Assumption
    • Hydes Lake
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Hydes Lake is located in Carver County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hydes Lake
    • Norwood
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Norwood Young America
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Norwood Young America is located in Carver County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwood Young America
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,794 people
  • Dakota County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lydia, with the one closest to Lydia listed first.
    • Lakeville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Burnsville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Eureka Center
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Eureka Center is located in Dakota County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eureka Center
    • Apple Valley
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Farmington
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Nicols
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Nicols is located in Dakota County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nicols
    • Castle Rock
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Castle Rock is located in Dakota County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Castle Rock
    • Eagan
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Eagan is located in Dakota County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagan
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 65,975 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Eagan <1>
    • Waterford
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Waterford is located in Dakota County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterford
    • Rosemount
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Coates
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Coates is located in Dakota County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coates
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 155 people
    • Mendota Heights
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Mendota
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
  • Goodhue County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lydia, with the one closest to Lydia listed first.
    • Stanton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Stanton is located in Goodhue County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stanton
    • Dennison
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Cannon Falls
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
    • Wangs
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Wangs is located in Goodhue County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wangs
  • Hennepin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lydia, with the one closest to Lydia listed first.
    • Eden Prairie
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Bloomington
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Excelsior
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Greenwood
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Greenwood is located in Hennepin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 937 people
    • Edina
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Edina is located in Hennepin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edina
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 52,477 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Edina <1>
    • Shorewood
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Tonka Bay
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Tonka Bay is located in Hennepin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tonka Bay
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,551 people
    • Deephaven
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Hopkins
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Minnetonka
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Richfield
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Minnetonka Beach
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Minnetonka Beach is located in Hennepin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minnetonka Beach
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 584 people
    • Minnetonka Mills
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Minnetonka Mills is located in Hennepin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minnetonka Mills
  • Le Sueur County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lydia, with the one closest to Lydia listed first.
    • Heidelberg
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Heidelberg is located in Le Sueur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heidelberg
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 122 people
    • Montgomery
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Saint Thomas
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Saint Thomas is located in Le Sueur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Thomas
    • Lexington
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Lexington is located in Le Sueur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lexington
    • Le Center
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Cordova
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Cordova is located in Le Sueur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cordova
    • Kilkenny
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Le Sueur
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Cleveland
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Ottawa
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Ottawa is located in Le Sueur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ottawa
    • Waterville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
  • McLeod County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lydia, with the one closest to Lydia listed first.
    • Plato
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Lester Prairie
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Ramsey County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lydia, with the one closest to Lydia listed first.
    • Lauderdale
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Lauderdale is located in Ramsey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lauderdale
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,484 people
    • Falcon Heights
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Saint Paul
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Highwood
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Highwood is located in Ramsey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highwood
    • Roseville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Rice County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lydia, with the one closest to Lydia listed first.
    • Webster
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Lonsdale
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Wheatland
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Wheatland is located in Rice County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheatland
    • Trondjem
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Trondjem is located in Rice County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trondjem
    • Millersburg
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Millersburg is located in Rice County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millersburg
    • Dundas
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Northfield
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Cannon City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Cannon City is located in Rice County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cannon City
    • Faribault
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Warsaw
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Warsaw is located in Rice County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warsaw
    • Morristown
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Nerstrand
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Sibley County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lydia, with the one closest to Lydia listed first.
    • Henderson
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Green Isle
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Arlington
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
  • Washington County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lydia, with the one closest to Lydia listed first.
    • Saint Paul Park
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Newport
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Cottage Grove
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Wright County
    • Delano
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)

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

Cemeteries Near Lydia ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Lydia.

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

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

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

  • Concord Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Fish Lake Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • St. Patrick Catholic Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • St. Catherine Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • St. Marys Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Catholic Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • St. Michaels Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • St. Pauls Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Calvary Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Spirit Hill Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Catholic Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Sancti Wenceslai Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (282 more) ...
    • St. Marks Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • St. Marys Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • St. Johns Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)

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 Lydia had a population of 38 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Saint Patrick
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Saint Patrick is located in Scott County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Patrick
  • Cedar Lake
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Cedar Lake is located in Scott County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Lake
  • Marystown
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Marystown is located in Scott County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marystown
  • Prior Lake
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Credit River
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Credit River is located in Scott County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Credit River
  • Jordan
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Merriam
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Merriam is located in Scott County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merriam
  • New Prague
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Shakopee
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • New Market
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Carver
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
  • East Union
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • East Union is located in Carver County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Union
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Chaska
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Barden
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Barden is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barden
    • Union Hill
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Union Hill is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Hill

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

Newspapers Published in Lydia ...

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 337 newspapers that have been published in the area around Lydia.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Lydia, there are papers which were published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Lydia.

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 Lydia:

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