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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 Martin (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 Martin. 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 Martin ...

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 Saint Martin: St. Martin

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

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 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 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.

Saint Martin is located in Stearns 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 Stearns County: Benton, Douglas, Kandiyohi, Meeker, Morrison, Pope, Sherburne, Todd & Wright.

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

  • Stearns County     (The home county of Saint Martin)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Saint Martin, with the one closest to Saint Martin listed first.
    • Roscoe
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Lake Henry
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Lake Henry is located in Stearns County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Henry
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 113 people
    • Richmond
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Spring Hill
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Spring Hill is located in Stearns County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Hill
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 95 people
    • Albany
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • New Munich
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Paynesville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Cold Spring
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Freeport
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Greenwald
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Avon
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • 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>
    • Meire Grove
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Meire Grove is located in Stearns County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meire Grove
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 200 people
    • Melrose
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Benton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Saint Martin, with the one closest to Saint Martin listed first.
    • Evergreen Village
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Evergreen Village is located in Benton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evergreen Village
    • Sauk Rapids
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Watab
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Watab is located in Benton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watab
    • Rice
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • 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>
  • Kandiyohi County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Saint Martin, with the one closest to Saint Martin listed first.
    • Regal
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Regal is located in Kandiyohi County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Regal
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 35 people
    • Hawick
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Hawick is located in Kandiyohi County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawick
    • New London
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Spicer
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Spicer is located in Kandiyohi County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spicer
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,224 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Spicer <1>
    • Atwater
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Kandiyohi
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Kandiyohi is located in Kandiyohi County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kandiyohi
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 477 people
    • Sunburg
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Sunburg is located in Kandiyohi County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunburg
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 99 people
  • Meeker County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Saint Martin, with the one closest to Saint Martin listed first.
    • Eden Valley
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Manannah
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Manannah is located in Meeker County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manannah
    • Watkins
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Forest City
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Forest City is located in Meeker County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest City
    • Grove City
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Litchfield
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Kingston
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Kingston is located in Meeker County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingston
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 162 people
    • Darwin
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Morrison County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Saint Martin, with the one closest to Saint Martin listed first.
    • Upsala
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Elmdale
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Elmdale is located in Morrison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmdale
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 116 people
    • Bowlus
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • North Prairie
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • North Prairie is located in Morrison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Prairie
    • Swanville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Royalton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Sobieski
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Sobieski is located in Morrison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sobieski
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 194 people
  • Pope County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Saint Martin, with the one closest to Saint Martin listed first.
    • Grove Lake
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Grove Lake is located in Pope County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grove Lake
    • Westport
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Westport is located in Pope County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westport
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 61 people
    • Sedan
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Sedan is located in Pope County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sedan
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 50 people
  • Sherburne County
    • Cable
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Cable is located in Sherburne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cable
  • Todd County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Saint Martin, with the one closest to Saint Martin listed first.
    • Grey Eagle
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Burtrum
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • West Union
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • West Union is located in Todd County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Union
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 123 people
    • Pillsbury
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Pillsbury is located in Todd County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pillsbury
  • Wright County
    • South Haven
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Saint Martin ...

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

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 Martin - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • St. Martin Catholic Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • St. Catherine's Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Salem Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • St. Agnes Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Immanuel Lutheran Church Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Immanuel Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • St. Margarets Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Zion Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • St.s Peter & Paul Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • St. Michael Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Grove Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • St. Louis Catholic Church Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (190 more) ...

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>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Saint Martin had a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, Saint Martin had a population of 352 people.

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

  • Farming
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Farming is located in Stearns County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farming
  • Roscoe
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Lake Henry
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Lake Henry is located in Stearns County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Henry
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 113 people
  • Richmond
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Spring Hill
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Spring Hill is located in Stearns County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Hill
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 95 people
  • Paynesville
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
  • New Munich
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Albany
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Cold Spring
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
  • Freeport
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
  • Avon
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • 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>
  • Meire Grove
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Meire Grove is located in Stearns County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meire Grove
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 200 people
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Georgeville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Georgeville is located in Stearns County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgeville
    • Eden Valley
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Melrose
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)

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

Newspapers Published in Saint Martin ...

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 65 newspapers that have been published in the area around Saint Martin.

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

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 Saint Martin:

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 Martin, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>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- Saint Martin) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.