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 South Branch (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 South Branch. 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 South Branch ...
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.
Another variation: Southbranch.
- A typical abbreviation for South Branch: S. Branch
You might be interested in other communities that are also named South Branch. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for South Branch.
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 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.
South Branch is located in Watonwan 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 Watonwan County: Blue Earth, Brown, Cottonwood, Jackson & Martin.
Below are the counties that are near South Branch. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to South Branch:
- Watonwan County (The home county of South Branch)
- The following are listed by their distance from South Branch, with the one closest to South Branch listed first.
- Lewisville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Lewisville is located in Watonwan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewisville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 244 people
- Saint James
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Grogan
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Grogan is located in Watonwan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grogan
- Odin
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Odin is located in Watonwan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Odin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 104 people
- La Salle
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- La Salle is located in Watonwan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Salle
- Population from the 2020 Census: 86 people
- Madelia
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Butterfield
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Butterfield is located in Watonwan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butterfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 582 people
- Godahl
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Godahl is located in Watonwan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Godahl
- Darfur
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Darfur is located in Watonwan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darfur
- Population from the 2020 Census: 102 people
- Blue Earth County
- The following are listed by their distance from South Branch, with the one closest to South Branch listed first.
- Willow Creek
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Willow Creek is located in Blue Earth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willow Creek
- Amboy
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Vernon Center
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Vernon Center is located in Blue Earth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vernon Center
- Population from the 2020 Census: 313 people
- Garden City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Garden City is located in Blue Earth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden City
- Lake Crystal
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Good Thunder
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Judson
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Judson is located in Blue Earth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Judson
- Rapidan
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Rapidan is located in Blue Earth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rapidan
- Mapleton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Beauford
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Beauford is located in Blue Earth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beauford
- Brown County
- The following are listed by their distance from South Branch, with the one closest to South Branch listed first.
- Hanska
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Comfrey
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Searles
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Searles is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Searles
- Iberia
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Iberia is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iberia
- Leavenworth
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Leavenworth is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leavenworth
- New Ulm
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Sleepy Eye
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Essig
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Cottonwood County
- The following are listed by their distance from South Branch, with the one closest to South Branch listed first.
- Mountain Lake
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Bingham Lake
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Windom
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Faribault County
- The following are listed by their distance from South Branch, with the one closest to South Branch listed first.
- Huntley
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Huntley is located in Faribault County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntley
- Winnebago
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Delavan
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Delavan is located in Faribault County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delavan
- Population from the 2020 Census: 166 people
- Blue Earth
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Blue Earth is located in Faribault County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Earth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,098 people
- Former name for Blue Earth:
- Blue Earth City
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Blue Earth <1>
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from South Branch, with the one closest to South Branch listed first.
- Alpha
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Alpha is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alpha
- Population from the 2020 Census: 119 people
- Jackson
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Petersburg
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Petersburg is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petersburg
- Martin County
- The following are listed by their distance from South Branch, with the one closest to South Branch listed first.
- Truman
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Truman is located in Martin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Truman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,028 people
- Ormsby
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Ormsby is located in Martin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ormsby
- Population from the 2020 Census: 121 people
- Northrop
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Trimont
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Welcome
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Fairmont
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Granada
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Sherburn
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Ceylon
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Dunnell
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Dunnell is located in Martin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunnell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 145 people
- Nicollet County
- Courtland
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Emmet County (IA)
- Dolliver
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to South Branch, see our County-by-County Page for South Branch.
Cemeteries Near South Branch ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of South Branch.
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 South Branch - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for South Branch covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from South Branch, with the one closest to South Branch listed first.
- Sell - Lamb Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Waverly Lutheran Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- St. Paul Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Ridge Lawn Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Antrim - St. Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Antrim Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Mt. Hope Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Long Lake Lutheran Church Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Zion Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- North Star Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Rosendale Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Kansas Lake Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Continue List (156 more) ...
- Barvel Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Horicon Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Westford Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, South Branch had a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from South Branch, with the one closest to South Branch listed first.
- Saint James
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Grogan
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Grogan is located in Watonwan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grogan
- Odin
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Odin is located in Watonwan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Odin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 104 people
- Nashville Center
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Nashville Center is located in Martin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nashville Center
- Willow Creek
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Willow Creek is located in Blue Earth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willow Creek
- Madelia
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Butterfield
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Butterfield is located in Watonwan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butterfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 582 people
- Welcome
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Fairmont
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Sherburn
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Huntley
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Huntley is located in Faribault County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntley
- Hanska
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Amboy
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Vernon Center
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Vernon Center is located in Blue Earth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vernon Center
- Population from the 2020 Census: 313 people
- Mountain Lake
(19 miles [30.6 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 South Branch. See our List of 1890's Communities around South Branch.
Newspapers Published in South Branch ...
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 131 newspapers that have been published in the area around South Branch.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of South Branch, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for South Branch.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 South Branch:
- Websites specific to Minnesota
- Pages specific to Watonwan County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Blue Earth County
- Brown County
- Cottonwood County
- Faribault County
- Jackson County
- Martin County
- Nicollet County
- Emmet 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> | 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 South Branch, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- South Branch) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |