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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 Medicine Lake (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 Medicine Lake. 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 Medicine Lake ...

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.

For example, a typical abbreviation for Medicine Lake: Medicine Lk.

You might be interested in other communities that are also named Medicine Lake. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Medicine Lake.

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 northwest 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 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 west 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.

Medicine Lake 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 Medicine Lake. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Medicine Lake:

  • Hennepin County     (The home county of Medicine Lake)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Medicine Lake, with the one closest to Medicine Lake listed first.
    • Plymouth
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Golden Valley
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Crystal
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • New Hope
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Saint Louis Park
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Robbinsdale
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Minnetonka Mills
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • Minnetonka Mills is located in Hennepin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minnetonka Mills
    • Wayzata
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Hamel
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Hopkins
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Minnetonka
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Woodland
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
      • Woodland is located in Hennepin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 487 people
    • Brooklyn Center
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Anoka County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Medicine Lake, with the one closest to Medicine Lake listed first.
    • Columbia Heights
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Fridley
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Hilltop
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Hilltop is located in Anoka County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilltop
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 764 people
    • Spring Lake Park
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Coon Creek
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Coon Creek is located in Anoka County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coon Creek
    • Anoka
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Coon Rapids
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Blaine
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Lexington
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Circle Pines
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Andover
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Ramsey
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Ham Lake
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Carver County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Medicine Lake, with the one closest to Medicine Lake listed first.
    • Chanhassen
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Hazeltine
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Hazeltine is located in Carver County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazeltine
    • Victoria
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Chaska
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Carver
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Dahlgren
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Dahlgren is located in Carver County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dahlgren
    • Watertown
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Waconia
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Cologne
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Hydes Lake
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Hydes Lake is located in Carver County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hydes Lake
    • Mayer
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Gotha
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Gotha is located in Carver County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gotha
    • Hazelton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Hazelton is located in Carver County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazelton
  • Dakota County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Medicine Lake, with the one closest to Medicine Lake listed first.
    • Mendota
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Lilydale
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Lilydale is located in Dakota County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lilydale
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 838 people
    • Mendota Heights
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Nicols
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Nicols is located in Dakota County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nicols
    • West Saint Paul
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Eagan
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • 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>
    • Burnsville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Sunfish Lake
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Apple Valley
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • South Saint Paul
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Inver Grove Heights
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Rosemount
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Lakeville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
  • Isanti County
    • Crown
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Crown is located in Isanti County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crown
  • McLeod County
    • Winsted
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Ramsey County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Medicine Lake, with the one closest to Medicine Lake listed first.
    • Lauderdale
      (10 miles [16.1 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
    • Falcon Heights
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • New Brighton
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Mounds View
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Roseville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Arden Hills
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Cardigan Junction
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Cardigan Junction is located in Ramsey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cardigan Junction
    • Shoreview
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Little Canada
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Saint Paul
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • North Oaks
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Vadnais Heights
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Gem Lake
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Gem Lake is located in Ramsey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gem Lake
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 536 people
  • Scott County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Medicine Lake, with the one closest to Medicine Lake listed first.
    • Shakopee
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Savage
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Prior Lake
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Marystown
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Marystown is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marystown
    • Credit River
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Credit River is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Credit River
    • Jordan
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Cedar Lake
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Cedar Lake is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Lake
    • Saint Patrick
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Saint Patrick is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Patrick
    • New Market
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Elko New Market
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • 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
    • Elko
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Sherburne County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Medicine Lake, with the one closest to Medicine Lake listed first.
    • Elk River
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Big Lake
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Washington County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Medicine Lake, with the one closest to Medicine Lake listed first.
    • Landfall
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Landfall is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Landfall
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 733 people
    • Birchwood Village
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Birchwood Village is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birchwood Village
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 880 people
    • Newport
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Oakdale
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Oakdale is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakdale
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 27,773 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Oakdale <1>
    • Pine Springs
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Pine Springs is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Springs
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 390 people
    • Willernie
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Dellwood
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Dellwood is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dellwood
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,120 people
    • Mahtomedi
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Hugo
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Hugo is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hugo
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 15,452 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hugo <1>
    • Saint Paul Park
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Duluth Junction
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Duluth Junction is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duluth Junction
    • Grant
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Grant is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grant
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,107 people
    • Woodbury
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
  • Wright County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Medicine Lake, with the one closest to Medicine Lake listed first.
    • Hanover
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Rockford
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Delano
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Saint Michael
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Albertville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Otsego
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Montrose
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Buffalo
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Monticello
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Waverly
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Rassat
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Rassat is located in Wright County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rassat

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

Cemeteries Near Medicine Lake ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Medicine Lake.

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 Medicine Lake - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Mt. Olivet Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Golden Valley Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Herzl Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Beth-el Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Gethsemane Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Parkers Lake Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • St. Marys Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Greenlawn Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Glenhaven Memorial Garden Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Bass Lake Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • St. Anne's Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (296 more) ...
    • Holy Name Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Summit Park Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Shady Oak Lake Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 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.<2>

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

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

  • Plymouth
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Saint Louis Park
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Crystal
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Wayzata
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Minnetonka Mills
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Minnetonka Mills is located in Hennepin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minnetonka Mills
  • Robbinsdale
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Woodland
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Woodland is located in Hennepin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 487 people
  • Minnetonka
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Hopkins
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Hamel
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Ditter
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Ditter is located in Hennepin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ditter
  • Brooklyn Center
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Maple Grove
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Minneapolis
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Long Lake
      (7 miles [11.3 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 Medicine Lake. See our List of 1890's Communities around Medicine Lake.

Newspapers Published in Medicine Lake ...

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 352 newspapers that have been published in the area around Medicine Lake.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Medicine Lake, there are papers which were published within 20 miles [32.2 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Medicine Lake.

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 Medicine Lake:

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>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 Medicine Lake, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>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- Medicine Lake) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.