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 Petran (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 Petran. 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 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.
Petran 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 Petran. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Petran:
- Freeborn County (The home county of Petran)
- The following are listed by their distance from Petran, with the one closest to Petran listed first.
- Hayward
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Oakland
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Oakland is located in Freeborn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland
- Myrtle
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Myrtle is located in Freeborn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myrtle
- Population from the 2020 Census: 46 people
- Glenville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Hollandale
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Albert Lea
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Clarks Grove
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Geneva
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- London
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- London is located in Freeborn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for London
- Twin Lakes
(12 miles [19.3 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
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Manchester is located in Freeborn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manchester
- Population from the 2020 Census: 55 people
- Bath
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Bath is located in Freeborn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bath
- Conger
(16 miles [25.7 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 Petran, with the one closest to Petran listed first.
- Westfield Center ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Westfield Center is located in Dodge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westfield Center
- Hayfield
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Claremont
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Faribault County
- The following are listed by their distance from Petran, with the one closest to Petran listed first.
- Walters
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Walters is located in Faribault County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walters
- Population from the 2020 Census: 67 people
- Kiester
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Wells
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Bricelyn
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Bricelyn is located in Faribault County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bricelyn
- Population from the 2020 Census: 334 people
- Mower County
- The following are listed by their distance from Petran, with the one closest to Petran listed first.
- Austin
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Mapleview
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Mapleview is located in Mower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mapleview
- Population from the 2020 Census: 177 people
- Varco
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Varco is located in Mower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Varco
- Lansing
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Lansing is located in Mower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lansing
- Lyle
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Brownsdale
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Rose Creek
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Waltham
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Renova ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Renova is located in Mower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Renova
- Sargeant
(22 miles [35.4 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
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Elkton is located in Mower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 148 people
- Johnsburg
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Johnsburg is located in Mower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnsburg
- Adams
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Steele County
- The following are listed by their distance from Petran, with the one closest to Petran listed first.
- Ellendale
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Union
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Union is located in Steele County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
- Blooming Prairie
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- River Point
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- River Point is located in Steele County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for River Point
- Hope
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Hope is located in Steele County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hope
- Steele Center
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Steele Center is located in Steele County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steele Center
- Pratt
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Pratt is located in Steele County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pratt
- Havana
(28 miles [45.1 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)
- Waseca County
- The following are listed by their distance from Petran, with the one closest to Petran listed first.
- New Richland
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Vista
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Vista is located in Waseca County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vista
- Wilton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Wilton is located in Waseca County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilton
- Waldorf
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Waldorf is located in Waseca County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waldorf
- Population from the 2020 Census: 224 people
- Cerro Gordo County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Petran, with the one closest to Petran listed first.
- Plymouth
(28 miles [45.1 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
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Plymouth Junction is located in Cerro Gordo County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plymouth Junction
- Creamery
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Creamery is located in Cerro Gordo County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creamery
- Mitchell County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Petran, with the one closest to Petran listed first.
- Carpenter
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Carpenter is located in Mitchell County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carpenter
- Population from the 2020 Census: 108 people
- Toeterville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Saint Ansgar
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Stacyville
(26 miles [41.8 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
- Mitchell
(28 miles [45.1 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
- Meyer
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Meyer is located in Mitchell County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meyer
- Little Cedar
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Little Cedar is located in Mitchell County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Cedar
- Winnebago County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Petran, with the one closest to Petran listed first.
- Lake Mills
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Scarville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Vinje
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Vinje is located in Winnebago County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vinje
- Leland
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Leland is located in Winnebago County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 268 people
- Worth County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Petran, with the one closest to Petran listed first.
- Northwood
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Silver Lake
(14 miles [22.5 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
(20 miles [32.2 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
- Bristol
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Bristol is located in Worth County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bristol
- Grafton
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Joice
(23 miles [37 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
- Manly
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Hanlontown
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Hanlontown is located in Worth County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanlontown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
- Fertile
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Petran, see our County-by-County Page for Petran.
Cemeteries Near Petran ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Petran.
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 Petran - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Petran covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Petran, with the one closest to Petran listed first.
- Hayward Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Hillside Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Oakland Lutheran Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Krikva Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Bohemian Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Kestner Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Fairview Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Kennevan Family Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- East Freeborn Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Glenville Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Greenwood Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- St. Pauls Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Continue List (220 more) ...
- Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Old Red Oak Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Moscow Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
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 Petran in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Petran.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Petran, with the one closest to Petran listed first.
- Hayward
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Glenville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Myrtle
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Myrtle is located in Freeborn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myrtle
- Population from the 2020 Census: 46 people
- Oakland
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Oakland is located in Freeborn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland
- Moscow
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Moscow is located in Freeborn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moscow
- Albert Lea
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Clarks Grove
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Gordonsville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Gordonsville is located in Freeborn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gordonsville
- Geneva
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Deer Creek
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Deer Creek is located in Worth County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deer Creek
- London
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- London is located in Freeborn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for London
- Austin
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Twin Lakes
(12 miles [19.3 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
- Ramsey
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Ramsey is located in Mower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ramsey
- Manchester
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Manchester is located in Freeborn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manchester
- Population from the 2020 Census: 55 people
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Petran. See our List of 1890's Communities around Petran.
Newspapers Published in Petran ...
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 108 newspapers that have been published in the area around Petran.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Petran, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Petran.
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 Petran:
- Websites specific to Minnesota
- Pages specific to Freeborn County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Dodge County
- Faribault County
- Mower 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> | 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 Petran, 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- Petran) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |