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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 Pine Brook (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 Pine Brook. 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 Pine Brook ...

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.

Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.

For example, a typical abbreviation for Pine Brook: Pine Brk.

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

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 southwest 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 south.

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 south 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.

Pine Brook is located in Isanti 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 Isanti County: Anoka, Chisago, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, Pine & Sherburne.

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

  • Isanti County     (The home county of Pine Brook)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pine Brook, with the one closest to Pine Brook listed first.
    • Dalbo
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Bradford
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • Bradford is located in Isanti County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradford
    • Cambridge
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Elm Park
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Elm Park is located in Isanti County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elm Park
    • Isanti
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Grandy
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Minnesota Boys Town
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Minnesota Boys Town is located in Isanti County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minnesota Boys Town
    • Crown
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Crown is located in Isanti County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crown
    • Stanchfield
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Braham
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Weber
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Weber is located in Isanti County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weber
  • Anoka County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pine Brook, with the one closest to Pine Brook listed first.
    • Saint Francis
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Bethel
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Coopers Corner
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Coopers Corner is located in Anoka County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coopers Corner
    • Nowthen
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Nowthen is located in Anoka County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nowthen
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,732 people
    • Oak Grove
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • East Bethel
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Cedar
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Linwood
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Linwood is located in Anoka County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linwood
    • Andover
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Ramsey
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Ham Lake
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Anoka
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • City of Columbus
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • City of Columbus is located in Anoka County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for City of Columbus
      • Estimated population in 2015: 4,007 people
  • Benton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pine Brook, with the one closest to Pine Brook listed first.
    • Oak Park
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Oak Park is located in Benton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Park
    • Ronneby
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Ronneby is located in Benton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ronneby
    • Foley
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Duelm
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Duelm is located in Benton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duelm
    • Gilman
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
  • Chisago County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pine Brook, with the one closest to Pine Brook listed first.
    • Harris
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Branch
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Branch is located in Chisago County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Branch
    • North Branch
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Rush City
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Stacy
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • 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>
    • Wyoming
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Chisago City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Almelund
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Lindstrom
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Center City
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Hennepin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pine Brook, with the one closest to Pine Brook listed first.
    • Champlin
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Dayton
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Rogers
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Rogers is located in Hennepin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rogers
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 13,623 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Rogers <1>
  • Kanabec County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pine Brook, with the one closest to Pine Brook listed first.
    • Coin
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Coin is located in Kanabec County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coin
    • Ogilvie
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Grasston
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Mora
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Mora is located in Kanabec County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mora
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,583 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mora <1>
    • Quamba
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Quamba is located in Kanabec County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quamba
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 127 people
  • Mille Lacs County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pine Brook, with the one closest to Pine Brook listed first.
    • Princeton
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Pease
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Pease is located in Mille Lacs County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pease
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 224 people
    • Bock
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Bock is located in Mille Lacs County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bock
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 108 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Bock <1>
    • Milaca
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Milaca is located in Mille Lacs County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milaca
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,899 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Milaca <1>
    • Estes Brook
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Estes Brook is located in Mille Lacs County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Estes Brook
    • Foreston
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Foreston is located in Mille Lacs County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foreston
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 527 people
  • Pine County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pine Brook, with the one closest to Pine Brook listed first.
    • Henriette
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Henriette is located in Pine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henriette
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 69 people
    • Pine City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Rock Creek
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Brook Park
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Brook Park is located in Pine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brook Park
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 132 people
    • Beroun
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Beroun is located in Pine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beroun
  • Sherburne County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pine Brook, with the one closest to Pine Brook listed first.
    • Zimmerman
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • 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>
    • Elk River
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Orrock
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Orrock is located in Sherburne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orrock
    • Santiago
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Santiago is located in Sherburne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Santiago
    • Big Lake
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Salida
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Salida is located in Sherburne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salida
    • Becker
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Becker is located in Sherburne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Becker
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,033 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Becker <1>
    • Clear Lake
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Wright County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pine Brook, with the one closest to Pine Brook listed first.
    • Otsego
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Albertville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Monticello
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Saint Michael
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Burnett County (WI)
    • Randall
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Randall is located in Burnett County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Randall

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

Cemeteries Near Pine Brook ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Pine Brook.

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 Pine Brook - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Oak Knoll Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Wyanett Free Church Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Karmel Covenant Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • King Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Spencer Brook Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Salem Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Old Wyanett Free Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Clough Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Sandy Lake Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Springvale Baptist Church Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • South Maple Ridge Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Berry Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (182 more) ...
    • Lakeside Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Kienitz Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • St. Johns 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>

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

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

  • Bradford
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Bradford is located in Isanti County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradford
  • Springvale
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Springvale is located in Isanti County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springvale
  • Dalbo
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Spencer Brook
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Spencer Brook is located in Isanti County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spencer Brook
  • Cambridge
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Isanti
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Princeton
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
  • Crown
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Crown is located in Isanti County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crown
  • Stanchfield
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Saint Francis
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
  • Blomford
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Blomford is located in Isanti County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blomford
  • Zimmerman
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • 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>
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Bethel
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Rush Point
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Rush Point is located in Chisago County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rush Point
    • Braham
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)

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

Newspapers Published in Pine Brook ...

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 111 newspapers that have been published in the area around Pine Brook.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Pine Brook, 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 Pine Brook.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we start 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 Pine Brook:

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