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 Reading (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 Reading. 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 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.
Reading is located in Nobles 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 Nobles County: Lyon (IA), Osceola (IA), Cottonwood, Jackson, Murray & Rock.
Below are the counties that are near Reading. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Reading:
- Nobles County (The home county of Reading)
- The following are listed by their distance from Reading, with the one closest to Reading listed first.
- Wilmont
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Rushmore
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Rushmore is located in Nobles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rushmore
- Population from the 2020 Census: 334 people
- Worthington
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Org
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Org is located in Nobles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Org
- Ransom
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Ransom is located in Nobles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ransom
- Adrian
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Brewster
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Brewster is located in Nobles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brewster
- Population from the 2020 Census: 466 people
- Lismore
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Lismore is located in Nobles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lismore
- Population from the 2020 Census: 218 people
- Bigelow
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Bigelow is located in Nobles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bigelow
- Population from the 2020 Census: 226 people
- Kinbrae
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Kinbrae is located in Nobles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kinbrae
- Population from the 2020 Census: 10 people
- Dundee
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Dundee is located in Nobles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dundee
- Population from the 2020 Census: 67 people
- Round Lake
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Leota
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Leota is located in Nobles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leota
- Cottonwood County
- The following are listed by their distance from Reading, with the one closest to Reading listed first.
- Westbrook
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Storden
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Storden is located in Cottonwood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Storden
- Population from the 2020 Census: 204 people
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Reading, with the one closest to Reading listed first.
- Okabena
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Okabena is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Okabena
- Population from the 2020 Census: 195 people
- Heron Lake
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Heron Lake is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heron Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 643 people
- Sioux Valley
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Sioux Valley is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sioux Valley
- Lakefield
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Wilder
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Wilder is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilder
- Population from the 2020 Census: 56 people
- Murray County
- The following are listed by their distance from Reading, with the one closest to Reading listed first.
- Fulda
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Iona
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Avoca
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Avoca is located in Murray County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avoca
- Population from the 2020 Census: 134 people
- Slayton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Chandler
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Chandler is located in Murray County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chandler
- Population from the 2020 Census: 246 people
- Hadley
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Hadley is located in Murray County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hadley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 59 people
- Lake Wilson
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Lake Wilson is located in Murray County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Wilson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 224 people
- Currie
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Dovray
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Dovray is located in Murray County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dovray
- Population from the 2020 Census: 51 people
- Lowville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Lowville is located in Murray County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowville
- The Lakes
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- The Lakes is located in Murray County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Lakes
- Pipestone County
- The following are listed by their distance from Reading, with the one closest to Reading listed first.
- Edgerton
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Woodstock
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Hatfield
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Hatfield is located in Pipestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 52 people
- Trosky
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Rock County
- The following are listed by their distance from Reading, with the one closest to Reading listed first.
- Kenneth
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Kenneth is located in Rock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenneth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 66 people
- Magnolia
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Magnolia is located in Rock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnolia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 208 people
- Kanaranzi
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Hardwick
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Luverne
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Ash Creek
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Ash Creek is located in Rock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ash Creek
- Steen
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Steen is located in Rock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steen
- Population from the 2020 Census: 164 people
- Dickinson County (IA)
- Lake Park
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Lyon County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Reading, with the one closest to Reading listed first.
- Little Rock
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- George
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Edna
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Edna is located in Lyon County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edna
- Rock Rapids
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Osceola County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Reading, with the one closest to Reading listed first.
- Allendorf
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Allendorf is located in Osceola County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allendorf
- Sibley
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Ocheyedan
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Ocheyedan is located in Osceola County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ocheyedan
- Population from the 2020 Census: 463 people
- Harris
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Harris is located in Osceola County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris
- Population from the 2020 Census: 158 people
- Cloverdale
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Cloverdale is located in Osceola County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cloverdale
- Ashton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Melvin
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Melvin is located in Osceola County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melvin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 197 people
- May City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- May City is located in Osceola County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for May City
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Reading, see our County-by-County Page for Reading.
Cemeteries Near Reading ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Reading.
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 Reading - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Reading covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Reading, with the one closest to Reading listed first.
- Summit Lake Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Church of the Brethren Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Garden of Memories
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Sunset Rest Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Calvary Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Wilmont Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Seward Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- American Lutheran Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Immanuel American Lutheran Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- St. Marys Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Worthington Twp. Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Lismore Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Continue List (109 more) ...
- Adrian Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adrian Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Adrian Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the east of Adrian.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #81835 <2>
- St. Adrian Cathholic Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. Adrian Cathholic Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the St. Adrian Cathholic Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the east of Adrian.
- The St. Adrian Cathholic Cemetery has also been known as:
- St. Adrian Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #83229 <2>
- Norwegian Lutheran Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
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 Reading in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Reading.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Reading, with the one closest to Reading listed first.
- Rushmore
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Rushmore is located in Nobles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rushmore
- Population from the 2020 Census: 334 people
- Worthington
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Org
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Org is located in Nobles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Org
- Adrian
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Brewster
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Brewster is located in Nobles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brewster
- Population from the 2020 Census: 466 people
- Fulda
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Bigelow
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Bigelow is located in Nobles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bigelow
- Population from the 2020 Census: 226 people
- Kinbrae
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Kinbrae is located in Nobles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kinbrae
- Population from the 2020 Census: 10 people
- Lime Creek
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Lime Creek is located in Murray County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lime Creek
- Iona
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Dundee
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Dundee is located in Nobles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dundee
- Population from the 2020 Census: 67 people
- Round Lake
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Avoca
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Avoca is located in Murray County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avoca
- Population from the 2020 Census: 134 people
- Magnolia
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Magnolia is located in Rock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnolia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 208 people
- Ellsworth
(19 miles [30.6 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 Reading. See our List of 1890's Communities around Reading.
Newspapers Published in Reading ...
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 117 newspapers that have been published in the area around Reading.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Reading, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Reading.
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 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 Reading:
- Websites specific to Minnesota
- Pages specific to Nobles County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cottonwood County
- Jackson County
- Murray County
- Pipestone County
- Rock County
- Dickinson County
- Lyon County
- Osceola 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 Reading, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Reading) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |