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 Vasa (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 Vasa. 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 and hospitals 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.
Vasa is located in Goodhue 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 Goodhue County: Dakota, Dodge, Olmsted, Rice, Wabasha, Pepin (WI) & Pierce (WI).
Below are the counties that are near Vasa. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Vasa:
- Goodhue County (The home county of Vasa)
- The following are listed by their distance from Vasa, with the one closest to Vasa listed first.
- White Rock
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- White Rock is located in Goodhue County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Rock
- Welch
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Belle Creek
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Belle Creek is located in Goodhue County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belle Creek
- Goodhue
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Cannon Falls
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Red Wing
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Hader
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Hader is located in Goodhue County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hader
- Bellechester
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Bellechester is located in Goodhue County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellechester
- Population from the 2020 Census: 177 people
- Wanamingo
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Zumbrota
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Wangs
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Wangs is located in Goodhue County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wangs
- Stanton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Stanton is located in Goodhue County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stanton
- Dennison
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Dakota County
- The following are listed by their distance from Vasa, with the one closest to Vasa listed first.
- Miesville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- New Trier
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- New Trier is located in Dakota County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Trier
- Population from the 2020 Census: 106 people
- Randolph
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Randolph is located in Dakota County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Randolph
- Population from the 2020 Census: 444 people
- Hampton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Vermillion
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Hastings
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Nininger
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Nininger is located in Dakota County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nininger
- Waterford
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Waterford is located in Dakota County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterford
- Coates
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Coates is located in Dakota County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coates
- Population from the 2020 Census: 155 people
- Castle Rock
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Castle Rock is located in Dakota County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Castle Rock
- Farmington
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Rosemount
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Eureka Center
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Eureka Center is located in Dakota County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eureka Center
- Dodge County
- The following are listed by their distance from Vasa, with the one closest to Vasa listed first.
- Concord
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Concord is located in Dodge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
- West Concord
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Mantorville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Olmsted County
- The following are listed by their distance from Vasa, with the one closest to Vasa listed first.
- Oronoco
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Genoa
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Genoa is located in Olmsted County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Genoa
- Post Town
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Post Town is located in Olmsted County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Post Town
- Potsdam
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Potsdam is located in Olmsted County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Potsdam
- Rice County
- The following are listed by their distance from Vasa, with the one closest to Vasa listed first.
- Nerstrand
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Northfield
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Dundas
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Cannon City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Cannon City is located in Rice County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cannon City
- Moland
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Moland is located in Rice County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moland
- Walcott
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Walcott is located in Rice County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walcott
- Faribault
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Millersburg
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Millersburg is located in Rice County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millersburg
- Scott County
- The following are listed by their distance from Vasa, with the one closest to Vasa listed first.
- Elko New Market
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- 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
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Wabasha County
- The following are listed by their distance from Vasa, with the one closest to Vasa listed first.
- Mazeppa
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Zumbro Falls
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Lake City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Hammond
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Hammond is located in Wabasha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hammond
- Population from the 2020 Census: 167 people
- Jarrett
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Jarrett is located in Wabasha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jarrett
- Millville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Vasa, with the one closest to Vasa listed first.
- Cottage Grove
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Saint Paul Park
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Afton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Saint Marys Point
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Saint Marys Point is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Marys Point
- Population from the 2020 Census: 388 people
- Newport
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Lake Saint Croix Beach
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Lake Saint Croix Beach is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Saint Croix Beach
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,071 people
- Woodbury
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Lakeland Shores
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Lakeland Shores is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeland Shores
- Population from the 2020 Census: 310 people
- Pepin County (WI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Vasa, with the one closest to Vasa listed first.
- Stockholm
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Stockholm is located in Pepin County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stockholm
- Population from the 2020 Census: 64 people
- Lund
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Lund is located in Pepin County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lund
- Barry Corner
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Barry Corner is located in Pepin County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barry Corner
- Lakeport
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Lakeport is located in Pepin County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeport
- Pepin
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Pepin is located in Pepin County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pepin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 747 people
- Pierce County (WI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Vasa, with the one closest to Vasa listed first.
- Hager City
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Hager City is located in Pierce County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hager City
- Bay City
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Bay City is located in Pierce County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bay City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 488 people
- Moeville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Moeville is located in Pierce County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moeville
- Prescott
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Prescott is located in Pierce County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prescott
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,279 people
- Trimbelle
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Trimbelle is located in Pierce County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trimbelle
- Maiden Rock
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Maiden Rock is located in Pierce County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maiden Rock
- Population from the 2020 Census: 119 people
- Ellsworth
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Ellsworth is located in Pierce County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellsworth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,272 people
- Beldenville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Beldenville is located in Pierce County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beldenville
- Morton Corner
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Morton Corner is located in Pierce County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morton Corner
- River Falls
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- River Falls is located in Pierce County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for River Falls
- Population from the 2020 Census: 16,306 people
- El Paso
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- El Paso is located in Pierce County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for El Paso
- Plum City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Plum City is located in Pierce County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plum City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 603 people
- Martell
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Martell is located in Pierce County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martell
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Vasa, see our County-by-County Page for Vasa.
Cemeteries Near Vasa ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Vasa.
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 Vasa - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Vasa covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Vasa, with the one closest to Vasa listed first.
- Swedish Methodist Episcopal Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Vasa Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Jempland Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Hope Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Messiah Episcopal Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- St. Columbkill's Catholic Church Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Cannon River Church Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Swedish Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Zion Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Burnside Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Welch Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Cannon River Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Continue List (243 more) ...
- Spring Garden Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Episcopal Church Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- German Evangelical Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
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, Vasa had a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Vasa, with the one closest to Vasa listed first.
- White Rock
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- White Rock is located in Goodhue County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Rock
- Welch
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Belle Creek
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Belle Creek is located in Goodhue County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belle Creek
- Ryan
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Ryan is located in Goodhue County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ryan
- Claybank
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Claybank is located in Goodhue County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claybank
- Goodhue
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Hay Creek
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Hay Creek is located in Goodhue County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hay Creek
- Eggleston
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Eggleston is located in Goodhue County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eggleston
- Cannon Falls
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Wastedo
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Wastedo is located in Goodhue County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wastedo
- Red Wing
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Hader
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Hader is located in Goodhue County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hader
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- White Willow
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- White Willow is located in Goodhue County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Willow
- Etter
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Etter is located in Dakota County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Etter
- Belvidere Mills
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Belvidere Mills is located in Goodhue County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belvidere Mills
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Vasa. See our List of 1890's Communities around Vasa.
Newspapers Published in Vasa ...
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 199 newspapers that have been published in the area around Vasa.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Vasa, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Vasa.
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 Vasa:
- Websites specific to Minnesota
- Pages specific to Goodhue County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Dakota County
- Dodge County
- Olmsted County
- Rice County
- Scott County
- Wabasha County
- Washington County
- Pepin County
- Pierce 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 Vasa, 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' (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- Vasa) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |