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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 Saint Benedict (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 Saint Benedict. 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 Saint Benedict ...

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 Saint Benedict: St. Benedict

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

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 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.

Saint Benedict is located in Scott 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 Scott County: Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Le Sueur, Rice & Sibley.

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

  • Scott County     (The home county of Saint Benedict)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Saint Benedict, with the one closest to Saint Benedict listed first.
    • New Prague
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Union Hill
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Union Hill is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Hill
    • Saint Patrick
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Saint Patrick is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Patrick
    • Jordan
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Belle Plaine
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Cedar Lake
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Cedar Lake is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Lake
    • Marystown
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Marystown is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marystown
    • New Market
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Credit River
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Credit River is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Credit River
    • Prior Lake
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Elko New Market
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Elko New Market is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elko New Market
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,733 people
    • Elko
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Shakopee
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Blue Earth County
    • Madison Lake
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
  • Carver County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Saint Benedict, with the one closest to Saint Benedict listed first.
    • Carver
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Gotha
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Gotha is located in Carver County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gotha
    • Chaska
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Dahlgren
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Dahlgren is located in Carver County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dahlgren
    • Assumption
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Assumption is located in Carver County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Assumption
    • Cologne
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Hazeltine
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Hazeltine is located in Carver County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazeltine
    • Chanhassen
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Victoria
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Hamburg
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Hamburg is located in Carver County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamburg
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 526 people
    • Hydes Lake
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Hydes Lake is located in Carver County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hydes Lake
    • Norwood
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Norwood Young America
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Norwood Young America is located in Carver County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwood Young America
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,794 people
  • Dakota County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Saint Benedict, with the one closest to Saint Benedict listed first.
    • Lakeville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Eureka Center
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Eureka Center is located in Dakota County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eureka Center
    • Burnsville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Castle Rock
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Castle Rock is located in Dakota County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Castle Rock
    • Farmington
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Apple Valley
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Waterford
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Waterford is located in Dakota County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterford
    • Nicols
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Nicols is located in Dakota County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nicols
    • Eagan
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Eagan is located in Dakota County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagan
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 65,975 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Eagan <1>
    • Coates
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Coates is located in Dakota County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coates
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 155 people
    • Randolph
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Randolph is located in Dakota County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Randolph
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 444 people
    • Rosemount
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Hampton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Goodhue County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Saint Benedict, with the one closest to Saint Benedict listed first.
    • Stanton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Stanton is located in Goodhue County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stanton
    • Dennison
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Hennepin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Saint Benedict, with the one closest to Saint Benedict listed first.
    • Eden Prairie
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Excelsior
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Greenwood
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Greenwood is located in Hennepin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 937 people
    • Saint Bonifacius
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Shorewood
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Tonka Bay
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Tonka Bay is located in Hennepin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tonka Bay
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,551 people
    • Deephaven
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Minnetrista
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Spring Park
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Bloomington
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Minnetonka Beach
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Minnetonka Beach is located in Hennepin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minnetonka Beach
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 584 people
    • Minnetonka
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Edina
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Edina is located in Hennepin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edina
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 52,477 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Edina <1>
  • Le Sueur County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Saint Benedict, with the one closest to Saint Benedict listed first.
    • Heidelberg
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • Heidelberg is located in Le Sueur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heidelberg
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 122 people
    • Saint Thomas
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Saint Thomas is located in Le Sueur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Thomas
    • Montgomery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Lexington
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Lexington is located in Le Sueur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lexington
    • Le Center
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Le Sueur
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Cordova
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Cordova is located in Le Sueur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cordova
    • Kilkenny
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Cleveland
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Ottawa
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Ottawa is located in Le Sueur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ottawa
    • Waterville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Greenland
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Greenland is located in Le Sueur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenland
    • Kasota
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
  • McLeod County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Saint Benedict, with the one closest to Saint Benedict listed first.
    • Plato
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Glencoe
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Lester Prairie
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Nicollet County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Saint Benedict, with the one closest to Saint Benedict listed first.
    • Saint Peter
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • New Sweden
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • New Sweden is located in Nicollet County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Sweden
  • Rice County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Saint Benedict, with the one closest to Saint Benedict listed first.
    • Wheatland
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Wheatland is located in Rice County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheatland
    • Lonsdale
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Webster
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Trondjem
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Trondjem is located in Rice County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trondjem
    • Millersburg
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Millersburg is located in Rice County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millersburg
    • Dundas
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Northfield
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Warsaw
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Warsaw is located in Rice County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warsaw
    • Morristown
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Cannon City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Cannon City is located in Rice County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cannon City
    • Faribault
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Sibley County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Saint Benedict, with the one closest to Saint Benedict listed first.
    • Henderson
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Green Isle
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Arlington
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Gaylord
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • New Auburn
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Waseca County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Saint Benedict, with the one closest to Saint Benedict listed first.
    • Elysian
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Palmer
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Palmer is located in Waseca County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmer

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

Cemeteries Near Saint Benedict ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Saint Benedict.

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 Saint Benedict - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

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 Saint Benedict in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Saint Benedict.

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

  • Union Hill
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Union Hill is located in Scott County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Hill
  • New Prague
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Saint Patrick
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Saint Patrick is located in Scott County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Patrick
  • Jordan
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Heidelberg
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Heidelberg is located in Le Sueur County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heidelberg
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 122 people
  • Lydia
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Lydia is located in Scott County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lydia
  • Cedar Lake
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Cedar Lake is located in Scott County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Lake
  • Saint Thomas
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Saint Thomas is located in Le Sueur County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Thomas
  • East Union
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • East Union is located in Carver County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Union
  • Marystown
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Marystown is located in Scott County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marystown
  • Lexington
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Lexington is located in Le Sueur County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lexington
  • Montgomery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...
    • Wheatland
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Wheatland is located in Rice County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheatland
    • Merriam
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Merriam is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merriam
    • New Market
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)

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

Newspapers Published in Saint Benedict ...

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 208 newspapers that have been published in the area around Saint Benedict.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Saint Benedict, there are papers which were published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Saint Benedict.

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 Saint Benedict:

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