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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 Oak Park (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 Oak Park. 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 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.

Oak Park is located in Anoka 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 Anoka County: Chisago, Hennepin, Isanti, Ramsey, Sherburne & Washington.

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

  • Anoka County     (The home county of Oak Park)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Oak Park, with the one closest to Oak Park listed first.
    • Coon Creek
      (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
      • Coon Creek is located in Anoka County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coon Creek
    • Coon Rapids
      (Less than 2 miles to the west)
    • Blaine
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Spring Lake Park
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Circle Pines
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Fridley
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Lexington
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Ham Lake
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Andover
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Anoka
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Hilltop
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Hilltop is located in Anoka County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilltop
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 764 people
    • Lino Lakes
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Columbia Heights
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Carver County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Oak Park, with the one closest to Oak Park listed first.
    • Chanhassen
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Hazeltine
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Hazeltine is located in Carver County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazeltine
    • Victoria
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Chaska
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Chisago County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Oak Park, with the one closest to Oak Park listed first.
    • Wyoming
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Stacy
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Stacy is located in Chisago County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stacy
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,525 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Stacy <1>
    • Chisago City
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Lindstrom
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Branch
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Branch is located in Chisago County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Branch
    • Center City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • North Branch
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Shafer
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Dakota County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Oak Park, with the one closest to Oak Park listed first.
    • Lilydale
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Lilydale is located in Dakota County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lilydale
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 838 people
    • West Saint Paul
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Mendota Heights
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Mendota
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Sunfish Lake
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Eagan
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • 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>
    • Nicols
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Nicols is located in Dakota County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nicols
    • South Saint Paul
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Inver Grove Heights
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Burnsville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Apple Valley
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Rosemount
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Hennepin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Oak Park, with the one closest to Oak Park listed first.
    • Brooklyn Park
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Champlin
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Brooklyn Center
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Osseo
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Osseo is located in Hennepin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osseo
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,703 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Osseo <1>
    • Robbinsdale
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Saint Anthony
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Crystal
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Maple Grove
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • New Hope
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Dayton
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Golden Valley
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Minneapolis
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Medicine Lake
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Isanti County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Oak Park, with the one closest to Oak Park listed first.
    • Crown
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Crown is located in Isanti County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crown
    • Isanti
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Weber
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Weber is located in Isanti County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weber
    • Bradford
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Bradford is located in Isanti County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradford
    • Minnesota Boys Town
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Minnesota Boys Town is located in Isanti County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minnesota Boys Town
    • Cambridge
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
  • Ramsey County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Oak Park, with the one closest to Oak Park listed first.
    • Mounds View
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • New Brighton
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Arden Hills
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Shoreview
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • North Oaks
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Cardigan Junction
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Cardigan Junction is located in Ramsey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cardigan Junction
    • Roseville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Lauderdale
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Lauderdale is located in Ramsey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lauderdale
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,484 people
    • Vadnais Heights
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Falcon Heights
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Gem Lake
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Gem Lake is located in Ramsey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gem Lake
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 536 people
    • Little Canada
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • White Bear Lake
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Scott County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Oak Park, with the one closest to Oak Park listed first.
    • Savage
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Shakopee
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
  • Sherburne County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Oak Park, with the one closest to Oak Park listed first.
    • Elk River
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Zimmerman
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • 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>
    • Big Lake
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Orrock
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Orrock is located in Sherburne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orrock
    • Salida
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Salida is located in Sherburne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salida
  • Washington County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Oak Park, with the one closest to Oak Park listed first.
    • Hugo
      (13 miles [20.9 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>
    • Dellwood
      (15 miles [24.1 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
    • Birchwood Village
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Birchwood Village is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birchwood Village
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 880 people
    • Forest Lake
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Mahtomedi
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Willernie
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Pine Springs
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Pine Springs is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Springs
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 390 people
    • Duluth Junction
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Duluth Junction is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duluth Junction
    • Grant
      (18 miles [29 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
    • Withrow
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Withrow is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Withrow
    • Oakdale
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • 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>
    • Landfall
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Landfall is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Landfall
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 733 people
    • Lake Elmo
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Wright County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Oak Park, with the one closest to Oak Park listed first.
    • Otsego
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Albertville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Hanover
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Saint Michael
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Rockford
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Delano
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Monticello
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Buffalo
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
  • Polk County (WI)
    • Osceola
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Osceola is located in Polk County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osceola
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,580 people
  • Saint Croix County (WI)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Oak Park, with the one closest to Oak Park listed first.
    • North Hudson
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • North Hudson is located in Saint Croix County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Hudson
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,833 people
    • Somerset
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Somerset is located in Saint Croix County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Somerset
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,992 people
    • Hudson
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Hudson is located in Saint Croix County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hudson
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 14,168 people
    • Burkhardt
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Burkhardt is located in Saint Croix County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burkhardt

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

Cemeteries Near Oak Park ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Oak Park.

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 Oak Park - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

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 Oak Park in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Oak Park.

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

  • Coon Creek
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
    • Coon Creek is located in Anoka County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coon Creek
  • Fridley
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Mounds View
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Anoka
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Champlin
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Osseo
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Osseo is located in Hennepin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osseo
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,703 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Osseo <1>
  • Brooklyn Center
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • New Brighton
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Maple Grove
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Crystal
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Robbinsdale
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
  • Centerville
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...
    • Dayton
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Cardigan Junction
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Cardigan Junction is located in Ramsey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cardigan Junction
    • Oak Grove
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)

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

Newspapers Published in Oak Park ...

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 362 newspapers that have been published in the area around Oak Park.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Oak Park, there are papers which were published within 22 miles [35.4 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Oak Park.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Oak Park:

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 Oak Park, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Oak Park) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.