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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 Thorsborg (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 Thorsborg. 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 southeast 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 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 east 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.

Thorsborg is located in Grant 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 Grant County: Douglas, Otter Tail, Pope, Stevens, Traverse & Wilkin.

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

  • Grant County     (The home county of Thorsborg)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Thorsborg, with the one closest to Thorsborg listed first.
    • Elbow Lake
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Erdahl
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
      • Erdahl is located in Grant County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erdahl
    • Barrett
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • Barrett is located in Grant County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barrett
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 414 people
    • Ashby
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Wendell
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Hoffman
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Norcross
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Norcross is located in Grant County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norcross
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 71 people
    • Herman
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Herman is located in Grant County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herman
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 445 people
  • Douglas County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Thorsborg, with the one closest to Thorsborg listed first.
    • Melby
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Melby is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melby
    • Evansville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Brandon
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Millerville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Millerville is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millerville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 103 people
    • Kensington
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Garfield
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Holmes City
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Holmes City is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holmes City
    • Alexandria
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Carlos
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Miltona
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Forada
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Otter Tail County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Thorsborg, with the one closest to Thorsborg listed first.
    • Dalton
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Western
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Western is located in Otter Tail County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Western
    • Underwood
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Urbank
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Urbank is located in Otter Tail County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Urbank
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 52 people
    • Fergus Falls
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Battle Lake
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Clitherall
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Nirvana
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Nirvana is located in Otter Tail County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nirvana
    • Vining
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Elizabeth
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Amor
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Amor is located in Otter Tail County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amor
    • Maine
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Maine is located in Otter Tail County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maine
  • Pope County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Thorsborg, with the one closest to Thorsborg listed first.
    • Farwell
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Farwell is located in Pope County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farwell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 52 people
    • Cyrus
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Lowry
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • New Prairie ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • New Prairie is located in Pope County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Prairie
    • Starbuck
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Stevens County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Thorsborg, with the one closest to Thorsborg listed first.
    • Donnelly
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Donnelly is located in Stevens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Donnelly
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 233 people
    • Morris
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Alberta
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Alberta is located in Stevens County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alberta
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 102 people
    • Chokio
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Traverse County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Thorsborg, with the one closest to Thorsborg listed first.
    • Charlesville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Charlesville is located in Traverse County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charlesville
    • Tintah
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Tintah is located in Traverse County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tintah
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 56 people
    • Dumont
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Dumont is located in Traverse County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dumont
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 87 people
    • Wheaton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Wilkin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Thorsborg, with the one closest to Thorsborg listed first.
    • Nashua
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Nashua is located in Wilkin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nashua
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 66 people
    • Campbell
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Campbell is located in Wilkin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campbell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 152 people
    • Tenney
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Tenney is located in Wilkin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tenney
      • Estimated population in 2011: 5 people
    • Foxhome
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Foxhome is located in Wilkin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foxhome
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 112 people
    • Childs
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Childs is located in Wilkin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Childs

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

Cemeteries Near Thorsborg ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Thorsborg.

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

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

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

  • Bethlehem Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Union Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Christ Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Bethesda Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Union Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Native American Burial Grounds
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Barrett Covenant Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Erdahi Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Ness Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ness Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Ness Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the west of Elbow Lake.
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #82885 <2>
  • St. Loretto Catholic Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. Loretto Catholic Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the St. Loretto Catholic Cemetery is located outside and to the west of Elbow Lake.
    • The St. Loretto Catholic Cemetery has also been known as:
    • St. Loretto Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2163077 <2>
  • Lund Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Pomme de Terre Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (176 more) ...
    • Bethania Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Burns Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)

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, Thorsborg had a post office and railroad service.

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

  • Elbow Lake
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Barrett
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Barrett is located in Grant County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barrett
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 414 people
  • Erdahl
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Erdahl is located in Grant County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erdahl
  • Melby
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Melby is located in Douglas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melby
  • Ashby
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Evansville
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
  • Wendell
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Hoffman
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Dalton
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
  • Brandon
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
  • Norcross
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Norcross is located in Grant County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norcross
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 71 people
  • Herman
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Herman is located in Grant County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herman
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 445 people
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Kensington
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Millerville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Millerville is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millerville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 103 people
    • Western
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Western is located in Otter Tail County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Western

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

Newspapers Published in Thorsborg ...

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 70 newspapers that have been published in the area around Thorsborg.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Thorsborg, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Thorsborg.

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 Thorsborg:

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