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 Solway (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 Solway. 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 southwest 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 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.
Solway is located in Beltrami County.
To see how the shape of Minnesota's counties have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Beltrami County: Cass, Clearwater, Hubbard, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake of the Woods, Marshall, Pennington & Roseau.
Below are the counties that are near Solway. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Solway:
- Beltrami County (The home county of Solway)
- The following are listed by their distance from Solway, with the one closest to Solway listed first.
- Pinewood
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Wilton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Bemidji
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Lavinia
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Debs
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Puposky
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Rosby
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Rosby have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosby
- Rosby is located in Beltrami County
- Turtle River
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Island Lake
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Nebish
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Tenstrike
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Little Rock
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Cass County
- Cass Lake
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cass Lake have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cass Lake
- Cass Lake is located in Cass County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 764 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cass Lake <1>
- Clearwater County
- The following are listed by their distance from Solway, with the one closest to Solway listed first.
- Shevlin
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Shevlin have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shevlin
- Shevlin is located in Clearwater County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 179 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Shevlin <1>
- Leonard
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Leonard have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leonard
- Leonard is located in Clearwater County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 44 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Leonard <1>
- Bagley
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bagley have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bagley
- Bagley is located in Clearwater County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,439 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Bagley <1>
- Minerva
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Clearbrook
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Clearbrook have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clearbrook
- Clearbrook is located in Clearwater County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 535 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Clearbrook <1>
- Rice Lake
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Rice Lake have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rice Lake
- Rice Lake is located in Clearwater County
- Gonvick
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Gonvick have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gonvick
- Gonvick is located in Clearwater County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 285 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Gonvick <1>
- Long Lost Lake
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Long Lost Lake have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Lost Lake
- Long Lost Lake is located in Clearwater County
- Estimated population in 2015: 44 people
- Hubbard County
- The following are listed by their distance from Solway, with the one closest to Solway listed first.
- Lake George
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lake George have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake George
- Lake George is located in Hubbard County
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lake George <1>
- Laporte
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Laporte have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laporte
- Laporte is located in Hubbard County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 118 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Laporte <1>
- Mahnomen County
- The following are listed by their distance from Solway, with the one closest to Solway listed first.
- Roy Lake
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Naytahwaush
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Naytahwaush have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Naytahwaush
- Naytahwaush is located in Mahnomen County
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Naytahwaush <1>
- Polk County
- The following are listed by their distance from Solway, with the one closest to Solway listed first.
- Lengby
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lengby have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lengby
- Lengby is located in Polk County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 86 people
- Gully
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Gully have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gully
- Gully is located in Polk County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 66 people
- Fosston
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Solway, see our County-by-County Page for Solway.
Cemeteries Near Solway ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Solway.
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.
If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Solway covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Solway, with the one closest to Solway listed first.
- Solway Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Solway Cemetery
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Solway Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Lammers Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Lammers Cemetery
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Lammers Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jones Twp. Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Jones Twp. Cemetery
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Jones Twp. Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Shevlin - Moose Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Shevlin - Moose Cemetery
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Shevlin - Moose Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Pinewood Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Moose Creek Twp. Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Moose Creek Twp. Cemetery
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Moose Creek Twp. Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Eckles Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Eckles Cemetery
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Eckles Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Clearwater Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Clearwater Cemetery
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Clearwater Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Landstad Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Landstad Cemetery
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Landstad Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Our Lady of Victory Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Our Lady of Victory Cemetery
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Our Lady of Victory Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Shevlin Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Shevlin Cemetery
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Shevlin Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Continue List (99 more) ...
- Wilton Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Wilton Cemetery
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Wilton Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Trinity Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Trinity Cemetery
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Trinity Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Buzzle Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Buzzle Cemetery
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Buzzle Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
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.<4>
While we didn't find Solway in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Solway.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Solway, with the one closest to Solway listed first.
- Red Lake
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Olga
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Olga have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olga
- Olga is located in Polk County
- Fosston
(29 miles [46.7 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 Solway. See our List of 1890's Communities around Solway.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Solway ...
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 54 newspapers that have been published in the area around Solway.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Solway. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Solway and those printed in the larger area surrounding Solway.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<5> of Solway.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These 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 Solway:
- Websites specific to Minnesota
- Pages specific to Beltrami County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cass County
- Clearwater County
- Hubbard County
- Mahnomen County
- Polk County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Minnesota
Off-the-Road Links ...
Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Solway. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.
The official website for Beltrami County: www.co.beltrami.mn.us/
The official website for State of Minnesota: https://mn.gov/
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 location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required. |
<3> | 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. |
<4> | 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 Solway, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
<5> | 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- Solway) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Solway. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 47.5212, Longitude: -95.1308 |