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 Oakland (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 Oakland. 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 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 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.
Oakland is located in Freeborn 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 Freeborn County: Winnebago (IA), Worth (IA), Faribault, Mower, Steele & Waseca.
Below are the counties that are near Oakland. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Oakland:
- Freeborn County (The home county of Oakland)
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakland, with the one closest to Oakland listed first.
- Hayward
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Hollandale
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Myrtle
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Myrtle is located in Freeborn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myrtle
- Population from the 2020 Census: 46 people
- London
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- London is located in Freeborn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for London
- Glenville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Clarks Grove
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Geneva
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Albert Lea
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Bath
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Bath is located in Freeborn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bath
- Twin Lakes
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Twin Lakes is located in Freeborn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin Lakes
- Population from the 2020 Census: 149 people
- Manchester
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Manchester is located in Freeborn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manchester
- Population from the 2020 Census: 55 people
- Hartland
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Hartland is located in Freeborn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 307 people
- Conger
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Conger is located in Freeborn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conger
- Population from the 2020 Census: 144 people
- Dodge County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakland, with the one closest to Oakland listed first.
- Hayfield
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Westfield Center ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Westfield Center is located in Dodge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westfield Center
- Claremont
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Dodge Center
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Kasson
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Faribault County
- Walters
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Walters is located in Faribault County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walters
- Population from the 2020 Census: 67 people
- Mower County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakland, with the one closest to Oakland listed first.
- Austin
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Mapleview
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Mapleview is located in Mower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mapleview
- Population from the 2020 Census: 177 people
- Lansing
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Lansing is located in Mower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lansing
- Varco
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Varco is located in Mower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Varco
- Brownsdale
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Rose Creek
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Lyle
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Waltham
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Renova ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Renova is located in Mower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Renova
- Sargeant
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Sargeant is located in Mower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sargeant
- Population from the 2020 Census: 60 people
- Elkton
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Elkton is located in Mower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 148 people
- Adams
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Dexter
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Olmsted County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakland, with the one closest to Oakland listed first.
- Rock Dell
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Rock Dell is located in Olmsted County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Dell
- High Forest
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- High Forest is located in Olmsted County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High Forest
- Shanty Town
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Shanty Town is located in Olmsted County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shanty Town
- Steele County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakland, with the one closest to Oakland listed first.
- Blooming Prairie
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Union
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Union is located in Steele County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
- Ellendale
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- River Point
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- River Point is located in Steele County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for River Point
- Hope
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Hope is located in Steele County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hope
- Steele Center
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Steele Center is located in Steele County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steele Center
- Pratt
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Pratt is located in Steele County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pratt
- Havana
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Havana is located in Steele County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Havana
- Owatonna
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Rice Lake
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Rice Lake is located in Steele County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rice Lake
- Waseca County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakland, with the one closest to Oakland listed first.
- New Richland
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Vista
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Vista is located in Waseca County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vista
- Cerro Gordo County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakland, with the one closest to Oakland listed first.
- Plymouth
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Plymouth is located in Cerro Gordo County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plymouth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 361 people
- Plymouth Junction
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Plymouth Junction is located in Cerro Gordo County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plymouth Junction
- Mitchell County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakland, with the one closest to Oakland listed first.
- Carpenter
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Carpenter is located in Mitchell County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carpenter
- Population from the 2020 Census: 108 people
- Toeterville
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Saint Ansgar
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Stacyville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Stacyville is located in Mitchell County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stacyville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 466 people
- Meyer
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Meyer is located in Mitchell County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meyer
- Mitchell
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Mitchell is located in Mitchell County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mitchell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 128 people
- Little Cedar
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Little Cedar is located in Mitchell County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Cedar
- McIntire
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- McIntire is located in Mitchell County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McIntire
- Population from the 2020 Census: 127 people
- Osage
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Osage is located in Mitchell County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osage
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,549 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Osage <1>
- Winnebago County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakland, with the one closest to Oakland listed first.
- Lake Mills
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Scarville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Worth County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakland, with the one closest to Oakland listed first.
- Northwood
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Silver Lake
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Silver Lake is located in Worth County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Lake
- Bolan
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Bolan is located in Worth County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolan
- Kensett
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Kensett is located in Worth County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kensett
- Population from the 2020 Census: 249 people
- Grafton
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Bristol
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Bristol is located in Worth County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bristol
- Manly
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Joice
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Joice is located in Worth County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joice
- Population from the 2020 Census: 209 people
- Hanlontown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Hanlontown is located in Worth County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanlontown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Oakland, see our County-by-County Page for Oakland.
Cemeteries Near Oakland ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Oakland.
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 Oakland - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Oakland covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Oakland, with the one closest to Oakland listed first.
- Old Red Oak Grove Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Fairview Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Oakland Lutheran Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Hillside Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Kennevan Family Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Moscow Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Fairview Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Bohemian Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Kestner Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Calvary Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calvary Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Calvary Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located in Austin.
- The Calvary Cemetery has also been known as:
- Calvary Catholic Cemetery
- St. Augustines Catholic Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #264295 <2>
- Oakwood Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Oakwood Cemetery is a very large cemetery that is located in Austin.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #82974 <2>
- Hayward Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Continue List (216 more) ...
- Krikva Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- London Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Cedar City Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
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 Oakland had a population of 110 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Oakland, with the one closest to Oakland listed first.
- Moscow
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Moscow is located in Freeborn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moscow
- Austin
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Ramsey
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Ramsey is located in Mower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ramsey
- Hayward
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Lansing
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Lansing is located in Mower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lansing
- Myrtle
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Myrtle is located in Freeborn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myrtle
- Population from the 2020 Census: 46 people
- Varco
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Varco is located in Mower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Varco
- London
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- London is located in Freeborn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for London
- Glenville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Brownsdale
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Deer Creek
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Deer Creek is located in Worth County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deer Creek
- Gordonsville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Gordonsville is located in Freeborn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gordonsville
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Lyle
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Rose Creek
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Blooming Prairie
(13 miles [20.9 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 Oakland. See our List of 1890's Communities around Oakland.
Newspapers Published in Oakland ...
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 126 newspapers that have been published in the area around Oakland.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Oakland, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Oakland.
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 Oakland:
- Websites specific to Minnesota
- Pages specific to Freeborn County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Dodge County
- Faribault County
- Mower County
- Olmsted County
- Steele County
- Waseca County
- Cerro Gordo County
- Mitchell County
- Winnebago County
- Worth 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 Oakland, 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- Oakland) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |