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 West Albany (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 West Albany. 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 West Albany ...
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 West Albany: W. Albany
You might be interested in other communities that are also named West Albany. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for West Albany.
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 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.
West Albany is located in Wabasha 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 Wabasha County: Goodhue, Olmsted, Winona, Buffalo (WI) & Pepin (WI).
Below are the counties that are near West Albany. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to West Albany:
- Wabasha County (The home county of West Albany)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Albany, with the one closest to West Albany listed first.
- Millville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Jarrett
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Jarrett is located in Wabasha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jarrett
- Hammond
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Hammond is located in Wabasha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hammond
- Population from the 2020 Census: 167 people
- Zumbro Falls
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Lake City
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Plainview
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Wabasha
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Reads Landing
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Elgin
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Mazeppa
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Kellogg
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Weaver
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Weaver is located in Wabasha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weaver
- Dodge County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Albany, with the one closest to West Albany listed first.
- Mantorville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Kasson
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Concord
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Concord is located in Dodge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
- Goodhue County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Albany, with the one closest to West Albany listed first.
- Bellechester
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Bellechester is located in Goodhue County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellechester
- Population from the 2020 Census: 177 people
- Frontenac
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Goodhue
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Pine Island
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Zumbrota
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Red Wing
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Roscoe
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Roscoe is located in Goodhue County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roscoe
- Wanamingo
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Belle Creek
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Belle Creek is located in Goodhue County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belle Creek
- Hader
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Hader is located in Goodhue County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hader
- White Rock
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- White Rock is located in Goodhue County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Rock
- Welch
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Olmsted County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Albany, with the one closest to West Albany listed first.
- Potsdam
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Potsdam is located in Olmsted County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Potsdam
- Oronoco
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Viola
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Viola is located in Olmsted County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Viola
- Genoa
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Genoa is located in Olmsted County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Genoa
- Eyota
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Post Town
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Post Town is located in Olmsted County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Post Town
- Rochester
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Dover
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Predmore
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Predmore is located in Olmsted County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Predmore
- Byron
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Simpson
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Simpson is located in Olmsted County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simpson
- Shanty Town
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Shanty Town is located in Olmsted County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shanty Town
- Winona County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Albany, with the one closest to West Albany listed first.
- Beaver ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Beaver is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver
- Elba
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Elba is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elba
- Population from the 2020 Census: 156 people
- Altura
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Saint Charles
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Rollingstone
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Utica
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Saratoga
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Saratoga is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saratoga
- Lewiston
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Minnesota City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Buffalo County (WI)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Albany, with the one closest to West Albany listed first.
- Nelson
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Nelson is located in Buffalo County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nelson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 343 people
- Alma
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Alma is located in Buffalo County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alma
- Population from the 2020 Census: 713 people
- Savoy ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Savoy is located in Buffalo County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Savoy
- Maxville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Maxville is located in Buffalo County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maxville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 302 people
- Buffalo City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Buffalo City is located in Buffalo County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 948 people
- Buffalo
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Buffalo is located in Buffalo County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo
- Cochrane
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Cochrane is located in Buffalo County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cochrane
- Population from the 2020 Census: 409 people
- Anchorage ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Anchorage is located in Buffalo County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anchorage
- Waumandee
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Waumandee is located in Buffalo County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waumandee
- Springdale ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Springdale is located in Buffalo County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springdale
- Fountain City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Fountain City is located in Buffalo County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fountain City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 842 people
- Montana
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Montana is located in Buffalo County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montana
- Dunn County (WI)
- Eau Galle
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Eau Galle is located in Dunn County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eau Galle
- Pepin County (WI)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Albany, with the one closest to West Albany listed first.
- Lakeport
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Lakeport is located in Pepin County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeport
- Pepin
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Pepin is located in Pepin County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pepin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 747 people
- Stockholm
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Stockholm is located in Pepin County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stockholm
- Population from the 2020 Census: 64 people
- Barry Corner
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Barry Corner is located in Pepin County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barry Corner
- Lund
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Lund is located in Pepin County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lund
- Ella
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Ella is located in Pepin County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ella
- Arkansaw
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Arkansaw is located in Pepin County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arkansaw
- Durand
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Durand is located in Pepin County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Durand
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,789 people
- Pierce County (WI)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Albany, with the one closest to West Albany listed first.
- Maiden Rock
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Maiden Rock is located in Pierce County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maiden Rock
- Population from the 2020 Census: 119 people
- Bay City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Bay City is located in Pierce County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bay City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 488 people
- Plum City
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Plum City is located in Pierce County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plum City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 603 people
- Hager City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Hager City is located in Pierce County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hager City
- Waverly
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Waverly is located in Pierce County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waverly
- Moeville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Moeville is located in Pierce County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moeville
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to West Albany, see our County-by-County Page for West Albany.
Cemeteries Near West Albany ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of West Albany.
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 West Albany - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for West Albany covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from West Albany, with the one closest to West Albany listed first.
- West Albany Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Hyde Park Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Millville Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Jacksonville Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Scott Settlement Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Swedish Lutheran Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- English Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Trinity Lutheran Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Oakwood Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Black Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- German Methodist Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Pleasant Prairie Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (220 more) ...
- St. James Lutheran Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Dale Pleasant Prairie Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Potsdam Lutheran Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
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>
While we didn't find West Albany in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of West Albany.
These communities are listed based on their distance from West Albany, with the one closest to West Albany listed first.
- Millville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Jarrett
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Jarrett is located in Wabasha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jarrett
- Zumbro Falls
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Hammond
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Hammond is located in Wabasha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hammond
- Population from the 2020 Census: 167 people
- Oak Center
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Oak Center is located in Wabasha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Center
- South Troy
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- South Troy is located in Wabasha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Troy
- Potsdam
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Potsdam is located in Olmsted County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Potsdam
- Lake City
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Bear Valley
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Bear Valley is located in Wabasha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bear Valley
- Plainview
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Pepin
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Pepin is located in Pepin County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pepin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 747 people
- Elgin
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Wabasha
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Bellechester
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Bellechester is located in Goodhue County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellechester
- Population from the 2020 Census: 177 people
- Mazeppa
(12 miles [19.3 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 West Albany. See our List of 1890's Communities around West Albany.
Newspapers Published in West Albany ...
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 71 newspapers that have been published in the area around West Albany.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of West Albany, 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 West Albany.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 West Albany:
- Websites specific to Minnesota
- Pages specific to Wabasha County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Dodge County
- Goodhue County
- Olmsted County
- Winona County
- Buffalo County
- Dunn 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 West Albany, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- West Albany) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |