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 Medina (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 Medina. 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 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.
Medina 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 Medina. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Medina:
- Hennepin County (The home county of Medina)
- The following are listed by their distance from Medina, with the one closest to Medina listed first.
- Hamel
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Loretto
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Long Lake
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Corcoran
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Orono
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Orono is located in Hennepin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orono
- Population from the 2020 Census: 8,348 people
- Maple Plain
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Plymouth
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Crystal Bay
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Crystal Bay is located in Hennepin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crystal Bay
- Wayzata
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Greenfield
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Greenfield is located in Hennepin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,058 people
- Minnetonka Beach
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Minnetonka Beach is located in Hennepin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minnetonka Beach
- Population from the 2020 Census: 584 people
- Independence
(6 miles [9.7 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
- Anoka County
- The following are listed by their distance from Medina, with the one closest to Medina listed first.
- Anoka
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Columbia Heights
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Fridley
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Hilltop
(16 miles [25.7 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
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Coon Creek is located in Anoka County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coon Creek
- Coon Rapids
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Spring Lake Park
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Ramsey
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Andover
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Blaine
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Lexington
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Circle Pines
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Carver County
- The following are listed by their distance from Medina, with the one closest to Medina listed first.
- Chanhassen
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Victoria
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Hazeltine
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Hazeltine is located in Carver County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazeltine
- Watertown
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Chaska
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Waconia
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Carver
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Dahlgren
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Dahlgren is located in Carver County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dahlgren
- Mayer
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Hazelton
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Hazelton is located in Carver County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazelton
- Hydes Lake
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Hydes Lake is located in Carver County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hydes Lake
- Cologne
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Dakota County
- The following are listed by their distance from Medina, with the one closest to Medina listed first.
- Mendota
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Nicols
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Nicols is located in Dakota County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nicols
- Lilydale
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Lilydale is located in Dakota County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lilydale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 838 people
- Burnsville
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- West Saint Paul
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Eagan
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Mendota Heights
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Sunfish Lake
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Apple Valley
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- South Saint Paul
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Inver Grove Heights
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Isanti County
- Crown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Crown is located in Isanti County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crown
- McLeod County
- The following are listed by their distance from Medina, with the one closest to Medina listed first.
- Winsted
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Lester Prairie
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Plato
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Ramsey County
- The following are listed by their distance from Medina, with the one closest to Medina listed first.
- Lauderdale
(18 miles [29 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
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Mounds View
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Arden Hills
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Falcon Heights
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Roseville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Shoreview
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Cardigan Junction
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Cardigan Junction is located in Ramsey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cardigan Junction
- Little Canada
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- North Oaks
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Saint Paul
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Vadnais Heights
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Scott County
- The following are listed by their distance from Medina, with the one closest to Medina listed first.
- Shakopee
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Marystown
(21 miles [33.8 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)
- Prior Lake
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Jordan
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- 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
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Saint Patrick
(30 miles [48.3 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 Medina, with the one closest to Medina listed first.
- Elk River
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Big Lake
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Salida
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Salida is located in Sherburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salida
- Becker
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Zimmerman
(28 miles [45.1 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>
- Orrock
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Orrock is located in Sherburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orrock
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Medina, with the one closest to Medina listed first.
- Birchwood Village
(29 miles [46.7 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
- Dellwood
(30 miles [48.3 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
- Hugo
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- 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>
- Landfall
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Landfall is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Landfall
- Population from the 2020 Census: 733 people
- Mahtomedi
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Newport
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Oakdale
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Pine Springs
(30 miles [48.3 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
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Wright County
- The following are listed by their distance from Medina, with the one closest to Medina listed first.
- Rockford
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Hanover
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Delano
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Saint Michael
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Albertville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Otsego
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Montrose
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Buffalo
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Waverly
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Monticello
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Rassat
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Rassat is located in Wright County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rassat
- Howard Lake
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Medina, see our County-by-County Page for Medina.
Cemeteries Near Medina ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Medina.
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 Medina - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Medina covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Medina, with the one closest to Medina listed first.
- St. Anne's Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- St.s Peter & Paul Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Anna Mason Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- St. Georges Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Long Lake Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Holy Name Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- St. Janes Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Maxwell Family Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Summit Park Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Lewis Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Christ Lutheran Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Greenlawn Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (301 more) ...
- Parkers Lake Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- St. Patrick Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Old St. Thomas Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
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 Medina in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Medina.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Medina, with the one closest to Medina listed first.
- Hamel
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Long Lake
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Ditter
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Ditter is located in Hennepin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ditter
- Maple Plain
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Corcoran
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Wayzata
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Plymouth
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Minnetonka Beach
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Minnetonka Beach is located in Hennepin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minnetonka Beach
- Population from the 2020 Census: 584 people
- Woodland
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Woodland is located in Hennepin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 487 people
- Burschville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Burschville is located in Hennepin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burschville
- Spring Park
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Excelsior
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Maple Grove
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Rockford
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Minnetrista
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Medina. See our List of 1890's Communities around Medina.
Newspapers Published in Medina ...
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 434 newspapers that have been published in the area around Medina.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Medina, 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 Medina.
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 Medina:
- Websites specific to Minnesota
- Pages specific to Hennepin County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Anoka County
- Carver County
- Dakota County
- Isanti County
- McLeod County
- Ramsey County
- Scott County
- Sherburne County
- Washington 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 Medina, 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- Medina) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |