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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 Westbrook (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 Westbrook. 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.

Westbrook is located in Cottonwood 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 Cottonwood County: Brown, Jackson, Martin, Murray, Nobles, Redwood & Watonwan.

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

  • Cottonwood County     (The home county of Westbrook)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westbrook, with the one closest to Westbrook listed first.
    • Storden
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Storden is located in Cottonwood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Storden
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 204 people
    • Jeffers
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Jeffers is located in Cottonwood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeffers
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 346 people
    • Windom
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Windom is located in Cottonwood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windom
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,403 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Windom <1>
    • Bingham Lake
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Mountain Lake
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
  • Brown County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westbrook, with the one closest to Westbrook listed first.
    • Comfrey
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Springfield
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Jackson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westbrook, with the one closest to Westbrook listed first.
    • Heron Lake
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Heron Lake is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heron Lake
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 643 people
    • Wilder
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Wilder is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilder
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 56 people
    • Okabena
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Okabena is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Okabena
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 195 people
    • Lakefield
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Lyon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westbrook, with the one closest to Westbrook listed first.
    • Tracy
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Garvin
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Garvin is located in Lyon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garvin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 129 people
    • Amiret
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Amiret is located in Lyon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amiret
    • Balaton
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Murray County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westbrook, with the one closest to Westbrook listed first.
    • Dovray
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Dovray is located in Murray County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dovray
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 51 people
    • Currie
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Avoca
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Avoca is located in Murray County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avoca
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 134 people
    • The Lakes
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • The Lakes is located in Murray County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Lakes
    • Fulda
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Slayton
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Iona
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Hadley
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Hadley is located in Murray County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hadley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 59 people
    • Lowville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Lowville is located in Murray County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowville
    • Lake Wilson
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Lake Wilson is located in Murray County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Wilson
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 224 people
    • Chandler
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Chandler is located in Murray County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chandler
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 246 people
  • Nobles County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westbrook, with the one closest to Westbrook listed first.
    • Dundee
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Dundee is located in Nobles County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dundee
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 67 people
    • Kinbrae
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Kinbrae is located in Nobles County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kinbrae
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 10 people
    • Brewster
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Brewster is located in Nobles County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brewster
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 466 people
    • Reading
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Reading is located in Nobles County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reading
    • Wilmont
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Worthington
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Redwood County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westbrook, with the one closest to Westbrook listed first.
    • Revere
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Walnut Grove
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Lamberton
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Sanborn
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Wanda
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Lucan
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Milroy
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Wabasso
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Clements
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Clements is located in Redwood County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clements
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 140 people
    • Seaforth
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Watonwan County
    • Darfur
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Darfur is located in Watonwan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darfur
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 102 people

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

Cemeteries Near Westbrook ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Westbrook.

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

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

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

  • Storden Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Emanuel Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Old German Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Our Saviors Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Bethany Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Old Westbrook Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Amo Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • St. Olaf Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • United Amo Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Willow Lake Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Highwater Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Faith Cemetery
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (135 more) ...
    • St. Rose Cemetery
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Walnut Grove Cemetery
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Jeffers Cemetery
      (12 miles [19.3 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, Westbrook had a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, Westbrook had a population of 712 people.

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

  • Storden
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Storden is located in Cottonwood County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Storden
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 204 people
  • Currie
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
  • Avoca
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Avoca is located in Murray County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avoca
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 134 people
  • Lime Creek
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Lime Creek is located in Murray County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lime Creek
  • Revere
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
  • Walnut Grove
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
  • Dundee
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Dundee is located in Nobles County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dundee
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 67 people
  • Fulda
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Kinbrae
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Kinbrae is located in Nobles County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kinbrae
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 10 people
  • Lamberton
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Slayton
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
  • Tracy
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Heron Lake
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Heron Lake is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heron Lake
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 643 people
    • Wilder
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Wilder is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilder
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 56 people
    • Iona
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Westbrook ...

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 95 newspapers that have been published in the area around Westbrook.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Westbrook. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Westbrook and those printed in the larger area surrounding Westbrook.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3> of Westbrook.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we start 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 Westbrook:

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 Westbrook, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Westbrook) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.