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 Maple Plain (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 Maple Plain. 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.
Name Variations for Maple Plain ...
When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Maple Plain: Maple Pln.
If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.
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.
Maple Plain is located in Hennepin 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 Hennepin County: Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne & Wright.
Below are the counties that are near Maple Plain. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Maple Plain:
- Hennepin County (The home county of Maple Plain)
- The following are listed by their distance from Maple Plain, with the one closest to Maple Plain listed first.
- Independence
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Independence is located in Hennepin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Independence
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,786 people
- Loretto
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Long Lake
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Medina
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Mound
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Orono
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Orono is located in Hennepin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orono
- Population from the 2020 Census: 8,348 people
- Spring Park
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Crystal Bay
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Crystal Bay is located in Hennepin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crystal Bay
- Hamel
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Greenfield
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Greenfield is located in Hennepin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,058 people
- Minnetrista
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Minnetonka Beach
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Minnetonka Beach is located in Hennepin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minnetonka Beach
- Population from the 2020 Census: 584 people
- Anoka County
- The following are listed by their distance from Maple Plain, with the one closest to Maple Plain listed first.
- Anoka
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Columbia Heights
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Fridley
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Hilltop
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Hilltop is located in Anoka County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilltop
- Population from the 2020 Census: 764 people
- Coon Creek
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Coon Creek is located in Anoka County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coon Creek
- Coon Rapids
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Ramsey
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Spring Lake Park
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Andover
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Blaine
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Lexington
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Nowthen
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Nowthen is located in Anoka County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nowthen
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,732 people
- Carver County
- The following are listed by their distance from Maple Plain, with the one closest to Maple Plain listed first.
- Victoria
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Watertown
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Chanhassen
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Hazeltine
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Hazeltine is located in Carver County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazeltine
- Waconia
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Mayer
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Hazelton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Hazelton is located in Carver County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazelton
- Chaska
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Dahlgren
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Dahlgren is located in Carver County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dahlgren
- Hollywood
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Hollywood is located in Carver County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollywood
- Hydes Lake
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Hydes Lake is located in Carver County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hydes Lake
- Carver
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Dakota County
- The following are listed by their distance from Maple Plain, with the one closest to Maple Plain listed first.
- Mendota
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Burnsville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Nicols
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Nicols is located in Dakota County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nicols
- Lilydale
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Lilydale is located in Dakota County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lilydale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 838 people
- Mendota Heights
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Eagan
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- West Saint Paul
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Apple Valley
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Sunfish Lake
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- McLeod County
- The following are listed by their distance from Maple Plain, with the one closest to Maple Plain listed first.
- Winsted
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Lester Prairie
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Plato
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Silver Lake
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Glencoe
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Ramsey County
- The following are listed by their distance from Maple Plain, with the one closest to Maple Plain listed first.
- Lauderdale
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Lauderdale is located in Ramsey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lauderdale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,484 people
- New Brighton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Falcon Heights
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Mounds View
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Arden Hills
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Roseville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Shoreview
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Cardigan Junction
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Cardigan Junction is located in Ramsey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cardigan Junction
- Saint Paul
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Little Canada
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- North Oaks
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Vadnais Heights
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Scott County
- The following are listed by their distance from Maple Plain, with the one closest to Maple Plain listed first.
- Shakopee
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Marystown
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Marystown is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marystown
- Savage
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Jordan
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Prior Lake
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Credit River
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Credit River is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Credit River
- Belle Plaine
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Saint Patrick
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Saint Patrick is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Patrick
- Sherburne County
- The following are listed by their distance from Maple Plain, with the one closest to Maple Plain listed first.
- Big Lake
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Elk River
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Salida
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Salida is located in Sherburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salida
- Becker
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Orrock
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Orrock is located in Sherburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orrock
- Zimmerman
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Zimmerman is located in Sherburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zimmerman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 6,135 people
- Zimmerman has also been known as:
- Lake Fremont
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Zimmerman <1>
- Sibley County
- Green Isle
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Wright County
- The following are listed by their distance from Maple Plain, with the one closest to Maple Plain listed first.
- Rockford
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Delano
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Hanover
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Montrose
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Saint Michael
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Albertville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Buffalo
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Waverly
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Otsego
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Rassat
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Rassat is located in Wright County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rassat
- Howard Lake
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Monticello
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Maple Plain, see our County-by-County Page for Maple Plain.
Cemeteries Near Maple Plain ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Maple Plain.
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 Maple Plain - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Maple Plain covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Maple Plain, with the one closest to Maple Plain listed first.
- Anna Mason Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Christ Lutheran Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Lewis Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- St.s Peter & Paul Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Union Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Oakland Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Minnestrista Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Maxwell Family Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- St. Georges Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Mound Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Long Lake Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Mt. Olive East Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (301 more) ...
- St. Josephs Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Summit Park Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Holy Name Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
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 Maple Plain had a population of 145 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Maple Plain had a population of 2,102 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Maple Plain, with the one closest to Maple Plain listed first.
- Long Lake
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Spring Park
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Minnetrista
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Minnetonka Beach
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Minnetonka Beach is located in Hennepin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minnetonka Beach
- Population from the 2020 Census: 584 people
- Ditter
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Ditter is located in Hennepin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ditter
- Hamel
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Rockford
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Delano
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Wayzata
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Saint Bonifacius
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Excelsior
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Woodland
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Woodland is located in Hennepin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 487 people
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Corcoran
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Burschville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Burschville is located in Hennepin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burschville
- Watertown
(9 miles [14.5 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 Maple Plain. See our List of 1890's Communities around Maple Plain.
Newspapers Published in Maple Plain ...
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 399 newspapers that have been published in the area around Maple Plain.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Maple Plain, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Maple Plain.
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 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 Maple Plain:
- Websites specific to Minnesota
- Pages specific to Hennepin County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Anoka County
- Carver County
- Dakota County
- McLeod County
- Ramsey County
- Scott County
- Sherburne County
- Sibley County
- Wright 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 Maple Plain, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Maple Plain) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |