RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Minnesota >> Benton County >> Rockwood Estates >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 Rockwood Estates (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 Rockwood Estates. 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 Rockwood Estates ...

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.

For example, a typical abbreviation for Rockwood Estates: Rockwood Ests.

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

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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most 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.

Rockwood Estates is located in Benton 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 Benton County: Isanti, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Sherburne & Stearns.

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

  • Benton County     (The home county of Rockwood Estates)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rockwood Estates, with the one closest to Rockwood Estates listed first.
    • Rice
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Rice is located in Benton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rice
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,401 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Rice <1>
    • Watab
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
      • Watab is located in Benton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watab
    • Evergreen Village
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Evergreen Village is located in Benton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evergreen Village
    • Sauk Rapids
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Gilman
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Foley
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Ronneby
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Ronneby is located in Benton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ronneby
    • Duelm
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Duelm is located in Benton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duelm
    • Oak Park
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Oak Park is located in Benton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Park
  • Meeker County
    • Watkins
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Mille Lacs County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rockwood Estates, with the one closest to Rockwood Estates listed first.
    • Estes Brook
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Estes Brook is located in Mille Lacs County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Estes Brook
    • Foreston
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Foreston is located in Mille Lacs County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foreston
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 527 people
    • Milaca
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • 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>
    • Pease
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Pease is located in Mille Lacs County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pease
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 224 people
  • Morrison County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rockwood Estates, with the one closest to Rockwood Estates listed first.
    • North Prairie
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • North Prairie is located in Morrison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Prairie
    • Royalton
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Buckman
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Buckman is located in Morrison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckman
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 273 people
    • Bowlus
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Morrill
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Morrill is located in Morrison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morrill
    • Ramey
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Ramey is located in Morrison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ramey
    • Genola
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Genola is located in Morrison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Genola
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 66 people
    • Elmdale
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Elmdale is located in Morrison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmdale
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 116 people
    • Pierz
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Pierz is located in Morrison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pierz
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,364 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Pierz <1>
    • Little Falls
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Sobieski
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Sobieski is located in Morrison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sobieski
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 194 people
    • Upsala
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
  • Sherburne County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rockwood Estates, with the one closest to Rockwood Estates listed first.
    • Cable
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Cable is located in Sherburne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cable
    • Clear Lake
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Santiago
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Santiago is located in Sherburne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Santiago
    • Becker
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • 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>
    • Orrock
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Orrock is located in Sherburne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orrock
  • Stearns County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rockwood Estates, with the one closest to Rockwood Estates listed first.
    • Saint Stephen
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Saint Stephen is located in Stearns County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Stephen
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 867 people
    • Evergreen Village
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Evergreen Village is located in Stearns County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evergreen Village
    • Sartell
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Opole
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Opole is located in Stearns County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Opole
    • Saint Wendel
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Saint Wendel is located in Stearns County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Wendel
    • Saint Cloud
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Waite Park
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Collegeville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Saint Joseph
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Holdingford
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Avon
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Avon is located in Stearns County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,652 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Avon <1>
    • Pleasant Lake
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Pleasant Lake is located in Stearns County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Lake
  • Todd County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rockwood Estates, with the one closest to Rockwood Estates listed first.
    • Burtrum
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Pillsbury
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Pillsbury is located in Todd County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pillsbury
    • Grey Eagle
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
  • Wright County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rockwood Estates, with the one closest to Rockwood Estates listed first.
    • Clearwater
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Hasty
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Hasty is located in Wright County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hasty
    • Silver Creek
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Silver Creek is located in Wright County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Creek
    • South Haven
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)

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

Cemeteries Near Rockwood Estates ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Rockwood Estates.

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 Rockwood Estates - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Immaculate Conception Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Rice Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Brockway Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • St. Stephni Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • St. Marys Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Graham Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Oak Hill Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • St. Francis Xavier Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Royalton Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Holy Trinity Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Mt. Carmel Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • St. Wendel Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (160 more) ...
    • St. John's Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Polish Lutheran Church Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Union Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 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 Rockwood Estates in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Rockwood Estates.

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

  • Rice
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Rice is located in Benton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rice
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,401 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Rice <1>
  • Watab
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Watab is located in Benton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watab
  • Royalton
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • North Prairie
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • North Prairie is located in Morrison County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Prairie
  • Opole
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Opole is located in Stearns County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Opole
  • Saint Wendel
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Saint Wendel is located in Stearns County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Wendel
  • Sauk Rapids
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
  • Gilman
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
  • Collegeville
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Saint Joseph
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Saint Cloud
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
  • Parent
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Parent is located in Benton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parent
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...
    • Buckman
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Buckman is located in Morrison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckman
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 273 people
    • Morrill
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Morrill is located in Morrison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morrill
    • Holdingford
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)

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

Newspapers Published in Rockwood Estates ...

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 88 newspapers that have been published in the area around Rockwood Estates.

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

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 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 Rockwood Estates:

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 Rockwood Estates, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>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- Rockwood Estates) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.